when he responded to the attacks 25 years ago.

And the president recognized Crowther, also a volunteer firefighter, by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Crowther's mother, Alison, and sister, Paige, accepted the award, which is considered the nation's highest civilian honor.

During his remarks, Trump also recalled being near the site after the attacks and hearing the structure then known as the U.S. Steel Building  creaking. 

 I was building a big building in New York and I took the whole crew down there right after this happened,  he said.  We thought it was coming down on top of us. And two firemen - big, strong guys, and I'm not the smallest guy in the world -- they grabbed me under the arms. 

 They lifted me up and they started running with me,  he added.  I said,  Fellas, I could run myself,' but they were amazing.  It wasn't clear from Trump's comments precisely when the event he described occurred.

In attendance were a smattering of top Cabinet officials and members of Congress, including Republican Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Dan Meuser, whose Pennsylvania district is near Shanksville, where Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001.

Trump praised at length Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial firm that had been housed at the World Trade Center. Lutnick lost his younger brother, Gary, as well as more than 650 employees in the attacks.

 He's done an amazing job,  Trump said of Lutnick.  He's rebuilt Cantor Fitzgerald, and he's given much of the profits to some of the families or the families of people who perished. 

About 150 first responders from New York, as well as some from Washington and Pennsylvania, were in attendance, Trump said.

 This steel beam represents the best of our country,  said Frank Siller, the foundation's chairman and CEO who is the brother of Stephen Siller.  It's important to recognize that the heroism that was exhibited that fateful day was nothing short of incredible. 

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Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report.