The 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11

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  • World Trade Center, Manhattan, New York, United States. 9/11 Memorial in New York City

  • Flags were placed to represent the lives lost on 9/11.

On September 11th, 2001, American citizens woke up and prepared for another normal day. They went to work, dropped their kids off at school, and followed their daily routines. No one could have imagined the terror that would take place only hours later and the lasting impact it would have on our country.

At 8:45 a.m., a hijacked plane hit the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Inebriated with over 20,000 gallons of jet fuel, the plane left many dead on impact and even more trapped in the building with no chance to save themselves. 18 minutes later, a second plane hit the South tower. Exactly an hour after the first plane hit, a third one flew into the side of the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Stuck in the aftermath of the explosions, hundreds of people were unable to escape the towers. The nation watched in horror as both towers collapsed, leaving unimaginable debris and smoke in their trails.

2,996 people died in the 9/11 terror attacks, along with thousands more injured. It would eventually be remembered as one of, if not the most devastating moment in American history, and left the United States a changed nation forever.

Even though it has now been 20 years since that devastating day, American people will never forget it nor let the memory of those lost be forgotten. The attacks left every American impacted forever.

“I can clearly remember watching the news at home and hearing that a plane had crashed into one of the ‘Twin Towers’ and thinking that it had to be an accident because who would do something like that on purpose?” Mr. Schulhofer recalled his experience of that day. “Seems like all we could do in class for the next few days was watch the news and wonder what our response would be.”

Mrs. Hanks also shared what she remembered from 9/11. “I was getting ready to leave for school when I heard on the TV playing in the background that the first tower was hit and I was in shock…I couldn’t believe this was reality and not some movie with special effects.”

The one thing every American citizen can agree with regarding that day, though, is the sense of unity that was felt between everyone in the days following the attack. Suddenly our differences didn’t seem so significant anymore. We were united together as one nation, and united as American people.

It has been 20 years since these terrorist attacks shook the American people to its core, but those lost will never be forgotten by our nation. They live forever through our memories and in our hearts and as long as we continue to honor them, they live on.

America will always be a nation in mourning, but all that we have been through has made us stronger and more united.