On September 11, 2001, then-President George W. Bush was at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, when he was informed about the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. A White House aide entered the classroom and told him, "America is under attack." At that time, Bush had been in office for less than eight months. The attacks involved four hijacked planes that struck the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people. The events shocked the nation and marked the beginning of a new era in American security and foreign policy. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the White House was evacuated, and Secret Service agents directed female staff to remove their heels and run for safety. Bush was quickly taken to Air Force One and spent the day traveling across the country before returning to Washington, D.C. That evening, he delivered a somber address from the Oval Office, expressing his disbelief, sadness, and anger over the attacks. He also visited Ground Zero in New York on September 14, where he stood on the remains of a firetruck and told emergency workers that the United States was now at war with Islamic militants. As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, an 80-year-old George W. Bush plans to attend a ceremony in New York at Ground Zero. On Wednesday evening, he will speak about his reflections on the anniversary at his presidential library in Dallas. Additionally, 16 paintings he created, each reflecting on the courage and sacrifice of that day, will be displayed for the public to view. Throughout the remainder of his presidency, Bush focused on efforts to prevent another attack, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and military actions in the Middle East. However, his administration faced criticism for the use of harsh interrogation techniques and for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which many believed was based on disputed intelligence about weapons of mass destruction. The legacy of 9/11 continues to shape national discourse and policy decisions to this day.