Today marks one of the most tragic and memorable days in American history. September 11, 2001. A date that will permanently stay in our hearts forever.
Fourteen years ago on this day, members of the Islamic terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked American airlines and flew those planes into The World Trade Center in New York City, New York. In about one hour, both the North and South Tower in New York City, 110-stories high, collapsed and killed approximately 3,000 innocent people.
Along with the towers, another plane crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia and a fourth plane was headed towards Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.
This wasn’t an accident; it was an act of terrorism on American grounds. On that day, many Americans had questions. Why would somebody want to do this? What gives these people the right to do this? How do we move on from this? How do we deal with this?
Although these questions might never be answered, American citizens have lived every day honoring those victims and heroes that were affected that Tuesday morning.
New York City now has two memorials in the spot where the North and South Tower once stood. These memorials have all of the names of the victims with a waterfall in it to represent the lives that were taken. There is also the 9/11 museum which contains memorabilia such as a burnt fire truck, stone stairs from the buildings, and victim biographies. Just this past year, the One World Trade Center opened up right next to the the spot of where the Twin Towers once stood. Which while it serves as a wonderful 360-degree view of the city, also serves as a memory.
Every year on September 11th, it is asked that you remember. You reflect. You think. It is a day in American history that changed us and made us grow as a country.
As former president George W. Bush said, “Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.”
Always remembered, never forgotten.
I am proud to be an American.