Freedom is never free!
There is no guarantee in life. Last Wednesday the country spent the day in solemn prayer and remembrance of the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation by four planes hijacked by suicide attackers with a mission to destroy and kill. The deadly attack was one of the most traumatic events to ever happen on American soil.
Four planes flying over the eastern US were seized by hijackers.They were then used as guided missiles to crash into landmark buildings in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Two planes struck the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center in New York City. The first hit the North Tower at 08:46 Eastern Time (12:46 GMT). The second crashed into the South Tower at 09:03. At 09:37 the third plane destroyed hit the western side of the Pentagon, just outside the nation’s capital, Washington DC.
The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03 after passengers fought back against the hijackers. In all, 2,977 people lost their lives. All 246 passengers and crew aboard the four planes were killed. At the Twin Towers, 2,606 people died. At the Pentagon, 125 people were killed. Over 400 first responders lost their lives.
Fire from the attack trapped people on the upper floors, and covered the city in smoke and dust. In less than two hours, both 110-story towers collapsed. An estimated 17,400 people were in the towers. All those trapped above the impact zone in the North Tower perished, but 18 managed to escape from the floors above the impact zone in the South Tower. Thousands of people were seriously injured and later died from the toxic fumes and debris.
This was a day that will always be remembered in American history. It’s a day where we remember and honor those who perished in the attack on our freedom and liberty.
Those who planned and carried out the attack against us on our own land were led by the Islamic extremist al-Qaeda group led by Osama Bin Laden.
Americans watched in horror as the terrorist attacks left nearly 3,000 people dead.The enduring power of the Sept. 11 attacks is clear: An overwhelming share of Americans who are old enough to recall the day remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. A review of U.S. public opinion in the two decades since 9/11 reveals how a badly shaken nation came together, briefly, in a spirit of sadness and patriotism. The attacks left us with a lasting historical legacy.
Diseases related to the dust and smoke produced by the collapse of the Twin Towers have claimed twice as many lives than the attacks themselves, with many new health problems still occurring.
This past Wednesday, friends, family, citizens and leaders of our nation gathered in New York City to pay tribute and honor to those who lost their lives in the attack on our nation. The impacts of the Sept. 11 attacks were deeply felt and slow to dissipate. Yet as each year passes we continue to remember the horrific events of that day 23 years ago, with hopes we will forever do so!