Remembrance

Even though a decade has passed since the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001, Americans still have the incident burned into their memory. Nearly 3,000 people died that day as both victims and heroes.
It was 8:45 a.m. when the first plane crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. The impact instantly killed hundreds and stranded those on the upper floors. Evacuation of the building began as cameras began televising what was believed to be a freak accident when a second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center near the 60th floor.
An hour later, American Airlines Flight 77 hurtled into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters. The ravaging inferno that ensued caused part of the concrete structure to crumple, killing 125 military personnel and civilians and the 64 people aboard the airliner.
Due to a flight delay, the passengers on the fourth plane heard about the attacks in New York and Washington D.C. via cellphone. Realizing that they would not return, both the passengers and flight attendants revolted against the hijackers and crashed the plane in a rural field in Pennsylvania at 10:10 a.m. No one survived. The plane’s target was rumored to be the White House, but no one knows for sure.
The United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists who believed that America was too arrogant. They, in the name of Allah (God), devastated the country as a form of punishment.
The effects of this horrific tragedy are global. Since 9/11, America has been in a war with the Middle Eastern countries to overthrow the Taliban and al-Qaeda for this past decade. The Taliban was removed from power in Afghanistan within two months, but Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, remained at large until May 2 of this year when U.S. forces found and killed him in Pakistan. This war has devastated our economy and inflamed prejudice against the Muslim community. As Americans and citizens of the world, we sincerely hope such acts will never be repeated.

By Jennifer Pierce
Copy Editor