September 11, 2001: Remembering And Honoring
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Twenty-four years ago, on September 11, 2001, the United States (US) faced the deadliest terrorist attacks in its history. The attacks were carried out by members of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. They killed 2,977 innocent people, leaving a lasting impact on the US.
What happened on September 11, 2001?
On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists split into four groups and hijacked four commercial airplanes. United Flight 175 and American Flight 11 left from Boston. American Flight 77 took off from Washington, DC, and United Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey. All were headed for San Francisco or Los Angeles and carried enough fuel to cause maximum damage.
Shortly after takeoff, passengers realized the planes had been hijacked. But people on the ground did not know until 8:46 am (EST). That is when American Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. At first, many thought it was an accident. That changed at 9:03 am., when United Flight 175 hit the South Tower. At 9:37 am, American Flight 77 struck the Pentagon in Virginia. Finally, United Flight 93 went down in a field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Phone calls from passengers and crew revealed that they fought the hijackers, preventing it from reaching its intended target — the US Capitol. By then, it was clear the US had suffered a series of well-planned terrorist attacks.
After the attacks
The impacts of the planes set off intense fires that quickly spread through the World Trade Center towers, weakening the steel supports. Within two hours, both 110-story buildings collapsed, sending enormous clouds of dust and debris across Lower Manhattan. Later that afternoon, the nearby 7 World Trade Center also fell. Fortunately, everyone inside had already been evacuated.
Amid the chaos, firefighters, paramedics, and police officers acted with extraordinary courage, rescuing an estimated 18,000 people. Many of these first responders gave their lives while trying to save others. At the Pentagon, Flight 77’s crash claimed 184 lives. The toll that day would have been even higher if not for the bravery of the 33 passengers and 7 crew members aboard Flight 93. Their actions helped prevent more destruction and saved countless lives on the ground.
What has happened since?
"Ground Zero," as it is now called, has been transformed into a place of remembrance and resilience. Four new towers now rise from the site, with the tallest being the One World Trade Center. Also known as the Freedom Tower, stands 1,776 feet (541 m) tall. Its height is a symbolic reference to the year of American independence.
Next to it lies the National September 11 Memorial, with two reflecting pools marking the footprints of the Twin Towers. The names of all the victims are etched into bronze panels surrounding the pools. The adjacent 9/11 Museum preserves artifacts and personal stories from that day.
The Pentagon also built a memorial with 184 stainless steel benches to honor both the government employees killed inside and the passengers of Flight 77. In Pennsylvania, the Flight 93 National Memorial commemorates the 40 passengers and crew who fought back. The site features the Tower of Voices, a 93-foot (25 m) structure containing 40 wind chimes.
Global War on Terror
The September 11 attacks started the US-led Global War on Terror. The first and longest part of this effort was the war in Afghanistan. It began on October 7, 2001 and ended almost 20 years later on August 31, 2021. Thousands of US soldiers died, and the war cost the country trillions of dollars.
Patriot Day
September 11, 2001, was one of the darkest days in US history and will never be forgotten. Yet it also brought Americans together, showing their determination to live without fear. This September 11 — Patriot Day — take a moment to honor the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost on that day.
#NeverForget
Resources: History.com, Wikipedia.org, www.aljazeera.com
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24 Comments
slytherin4ever2 days9/11 was a very sad day.9/11 happened when 3 planes crashed into the Twin Towers and one plane attempted to crash into the Pentagon but passengers on the plane stopped the plane and the plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. It was a grievous day for many families and the U.S.A. Like it says #NeverForget. May God bless America.
momajiwopoze2 daysNever Ever Ever Ever Forget- domejegy-1756215851002 days#NeverForget
ishman1232 days#NEVERFORGET
classroom23982 daysnever forget hopefully nothing in the future is as bad as this was. God bless America- slytherin4ever2 daysamen to that.
- jigatade-1756215849933 days#NEVERFORGET
lepikosavyly3 days#NeverForget god bless you all.- mario1163 dayshope will not happen
ueeaueea5 days#NEVERFORGET
852128sophie6 daysThis is so sad......I feel really sorry for all of those who died and sacrificed themselves to others