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It's hard to believe that teens now entering college were not yet born on that unforgettable Tuesday morning. Nearly 3,000 people died in Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in a Pennsylvania field on September 11, 2001, in what remains the deadliest act of terrorism in history.
At 8:46 AM, American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston, bound for LA, crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower, between the 93rd and 99th floors.
At 9:03 AM, United Airlines Flight 175, also headed from Boston to LA, crashed into the World Trade Center's South Tower, between the 77th and 85th floors.
At 9:37 AM, American Airlines Flight 77, bound from Washington area to LA, crashed into the western side of the Pentagon.
9:59 AM – the South Tower collapsed.
At 10:03 AM, United Flight 93, headed to San Fransisco from Newark, New Jersey, crashed into an empty field near Shanksville, PA. Passengers on the plane tried to retake control of the aircraft and diverted it as it was headed to Washington for another target.
10:28 AM – The North Tower collapsed.
Twenty years ago, the world was changed. Although the teens
entering college have no memory of the events, their world has had a
sense of terrorism as a norm.
Things will happen, and we cannot always prevent them. However,
we can control how we respond. The 9/11 Museum calls this the 9/12 story. The understanding is that we have this capacity for compassion, resilience, and hope when horrible things happen.
On September 11, Patriot Day gives all of us time to reflect on the devastating terror attacks. We commemorate those we lost and give thanks to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line. Take a moment to consider what we stand for as a nation and how we can work together to make the world a better place for all.
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