September 11, 2001 changed America forever.
Today, on the 25th anniversary of the attacks on our nation, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives taken too soon. We honor the first responders who ran toward danger, the families who carried unimaginable loss, the survivors whose lives were forever changed, and the countless Americans who answered tragedy with courage, compassion and service.
And we remember what happened in the days that followed.
Just eleven days after September 11, Katie Harman was crowned the 75th Miss America. At a moment when our country was grieving and uncertain, an American tradition continued, and with that crown came a responsibility far greater than anyone could have anticipated.
Within days of her crowning, Katie stood at Ground Zero and the Pentagon alongside the USO
She met rescue workers who had been working exhausting shifts amid the devastation. She listened to their stories, witnessed their determination and saw firsthand the extraordinary humanity emerging from unimaginable loss.
Years later, Katie would describe Miss America’s role during that time as a “conduit of hope and encouragement.”
That is perhaps one of the most powerful reminders of what Miss America can represent.
For more than a century, Miss America has been woven into the story of this country, celebrating achievement during its greatest moments and offering service, comfort and hope during some of its most difficult.
In September 2001, America did not need another celebrity.
America needed someone willing to show up.
Miss America did.
She became an Ambassador of Hope at a moment when hope mattered most, carrying with her a crown that represented something much larger than one woman or one title: resilience, service and the enduring belief that even in our darkest hours, we rise by lifting one another.
Twenty-five years later, we still remember.
We remember the lives.
We remember the heroes.
We remember the courage.
We remember how America came together.
And we will never forget.
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About Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc. (MASF):
Miss America is the nation’s leading empowerment and service platform for young women, supporting their personal and professional growth while inspiring them to serve as positive role models in their communities. Since 1921, Miss America has been dedicated to its mission of
“Empowering Women to Lead,” engaging thousands of young women nationwide, ages 14-28, as local and state brand ambassadors committed to community service.
Through the Miss America’s Scholarship Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), the program awards the largest amount of scholarships to women in America.