Digital out-of-home campaign uses the unique capabilities of the medium to remember the events of September 11, honor the lives lost, and ensure a defining moment in American history is never forgotten.
September 11, 2026: Link Media Outdoor is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a digital billboard tribute designed to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost, recognize the events that forever changed the nation, and create moments of reflection in communities across Link Media Outdoor markets.
Rather than presenting a single memorial message, Link developed a multi-day creative initiative that uses the unique capabilities of digital out-of-home media to tell the story of September 11 with respect, purpose, and restraint.
The tribute began on September 11 with a real-time timeline creative experience. Throughout the morning, Link’s digital billboards displayed individual memorial messages corresponding with significant moments as they occurred 25 years ago.
At key times throughout the morning, the creative changed to acknowledge pivotal moments in the timeline, including 8:14 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked; 9:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower; 9:37 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon; 10:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and 10:28 a.m., when the North Tower collapsed.
The intent was not to recreate the tragedy, but to use the timing capabilities of digital out-of-home media to recognize the progression of events as the nation experienced them on September 11, 2001. By allowing each message to appear at the corresponding moment 25 years later, the campaign created an opportunity for those encountering the billboards throughout the morning to pause, reflect, and remember.
Following the timeline tribute, Link transitioned into the second phase of the campaign, a traditional 25th anniversary memorial creative that will remain in rotation for several days following September 11.
Phase Two: A Nation in Remembrance
The second creative features the New York City skyline beneath the Tribute in Light, with the Statue of Liberty portrayed in a solemn, reflective pose as a symbol of a nation remembering those who were lost.
A restrained blue palette, minimal composition, and commemorative imagery create a quiet moment of remembrance, anchored by the message:
“25 Years. Never Forgotten.”
The creative is designed to extend the opportunity for reflection beyond September 11 itself, remaining in rotation across participating Link digital displays in the days following the anniversary.
“Twenty-five years later, September 11 remains a day that carries tremendous weight for our country,” said Brandon Sweeney, Creative Director at Link. “We wanted to use our digital network in a way that went beyond simply putting a memorial message on a screen. The timeline allows the medium itself to become part of the remembrance, acknowledging these moments as they happened while giving people an opportunity to pause, reflect, and remember the lives behind them.”
The project was developed through collaboration between Link’s creative, sales, and digital operations teams, with careful consideration given to the tone, timing, and responsibility that comes with creating public-facing memorial artwork.
For Link, the tribute also demonstrates how digital out-of-home media can serve a purpose beyond traditional advertising by providing communities with a shared public space for remembrance, recognition, and connection.
On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Link joins communities across the country in remembering the victims, their families, first responders, service members, and all those whose lives were forever changed by the events of that day.
25 Years. Never Forgotten.
About Link Media Outdoor
Link Media Outdoor is an out-of-home advertising company providing static and digital billboard solutions to businesses and communities across multiple markets throughout the United States. Through impactful creative, strategic locations, and innovative uses of outdoor media, Link Media Outdoor helps brands communicate clearly while also using its network to recognize meaningful moments within the communities it serves.
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