September 11, 2001. Four commercial airliners traveling from the northeastern United  States to California were hijacked mid-flight by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists. Their explicit goal was to crash each plane into a prominent American building, causing mass causalities and partial or complete destruction of the targeted buildings.

What Happened

The first plane to hit its target was American Airlines Flight 11. It was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex at 8:46 am. Seventeen minutes later at 9:03 am, the World Trade Center’s South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175. Both 110-story towers collapsed within an hour and forty-two minutes, leading to the collapse of the other World Trade Center structures including 7 World Trade Center, and significantly damaging surrounding buildings.

A third flight, American Airlines Flight 77, flown from Dulles International Airport, was hijacked over Ohio. At 9:37 am, it crashed into the west side of the Pentagon (the headquarters of the American military) in Arlington County, Virginia, causing a partial collapse of the building’s side.

The fourth, and final flight, United Airlines Flight 93, was flown in the direction of Washington, D.C. This flight was the only plane not to hit its intended target, instead crashing in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 am. The plane’s passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft away from the hijackers and ultimately diverted the flight from its intended target. Investigators determined that Flight 93’s target was either the White House or the U.S. Capitol.

Damages

The attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities, over 25,000 injuries, and substantial long-term health consequences, in addition to at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in human history and the single deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 340 and 72 killed,[ respectively.

Remember 9/11 and Those Proud Americans Who Served

As we approach September 11, this year, let’s remember the Police and Firefighter’s of 9/11 who risked and lost their lives on that day and the days to follow. As well as our military men who joined, deployed and fought to address those attacks and protect us from future ones. These Proud Americans Who Serve (Police, Fire and Military) continue to rush in, where most will not go. They are the first to be criticized and the last to be recognized for doing the job we have asked them to do.  

Let’s also remember that all who served that day did not wear a uniform. Many brave and private citizens stood up and refused to sit by as a small group of terrorists tried to destroy our country, our ideals and those buildings symbolic of our freedom and identity as a nation. Many lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends. We all felt pain that day, and yet, as Americans so often do, we also pulled together and helped our neighbors and worked to prevent and protect this nation of proud Americans who serve in their own way every day so that another September 11 will never happen again.