You'll never forget where you were when you heard about the events on Sept. 11, 2001. The days that followed were filled with fear, sadness and uncertainty, and of course, it took a long time for our nation to recover from it. However, we eventually did, but every year on this day, we still take the time to reflect on the events.
Magazine covers are like mini-time capsules that have a way of memorializing major events, such as tragedies like 9/11. From the week the attacks occured to the 10th anniversary of the events, magazines have depicted the September 11th attacks through the years in ways that have captured the emotion of that fateful day. Take a look at the 11 most moving magazine covers commemorating 9/11.
1. The New Yorker, Sept. 24, 2001
This emerged as not only one of the most iconic magazine covers commemorating the September 11th attacks but also one of the most famous magazine covers of all time. It was a collaboration between famous cartoonist Art Spiegelman and his wife Francoise Mouly, The New Yorker's art editor. Mouly wrote in honor of the 10th anniversary of the attacks that the cover "conveyed something about the unbearable loss of life, the sudden absence in our skyline, the abrupt tear in the fabric of reality."
2. Newsweek, Sept. 24, 2001
Thomas E. Franklin captured this image of FDNY firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001. It has remained one of the most famous images of the attacks.
3. People, Sept. 24, 2001
Photographer Robert A. Cumins took this photo of the second plane just before it crashed into the World Trade Center's south tower. The stillness of the aircraft made this image memorably eerie and ominous.
4. Sports Illustrated, Sept. 24, 2001
Sports Illustrated's cover after the September 11th attacks was simple, poignant and showed how the tragedy impacted every aspect of our lives.
5. ESPN, Oct. 1, 2001
A somber black background with lines of white text, the Oct. 1, 2001 cover of ESPN shifted the focus from the sports heroes in its pages to spotlight the real heroes who keep us safe in times of tragedy.
6. MAD, November 2001
MAD is usually known for its wisecracking humor and satire, yet it still managed to pay tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks in a way consistent with the magazine's point-of-view by incorporating the American flag into the famous gap tooth of the magazine's mascot Alfred E. Neuman.
7. Vanity Fair, November 2001
Vanity Fair's November 2001 issue focused on the people of September 11th, such as the survivors, volunteers and the first responders. The cover, which included a gatefold and wraparound portrait of FDNY firefighters, was a fitting and unique photo for a magazine, since many magazines used images of the towers for their covers.
8. TIME, Dec. 31, 2001
TIME named New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani its "Person of the Year" in 2001 for his work in getting the city back on track after the tragedy. With the Manhattan skyline behind him, the cover doesn't so much show a man on top as it does a resilient city — and nation.
9. The Economist, March 9, 2002
This haunting image from the wreckage at Ground Zero reminded us that six months after the September 11th attacks, the wounds from the events were still very fresh.
10. New Statesman, Sept. 5, 2011
The words creating the image of the Twin Towers on the cover of New Statesman reminded us of the long and painful road that led to 10 years after the September 11th attacks.
11. The New York Times Magazine, Sept. 4, 2011
For the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, The New York Times Magazine decided to focus on the construction of 1 World Trade Center and the people building it, giving us a very unique image of where we've come since that day.
