On November 11, 2001, former President George Bush said in a speech, "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."
On September 11, 2001, 2749 people were murdered by foreign terrorists in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes carrying a total of 232 passengers in mid-flight.
At speeds of 440 mph and 540 mph they flew two of the planes loaded with 137 passengers and 18,835 gallons of jet fuel into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing the buildings to catch fire and then collapse, killing thousands, including the brave men and women who came to rescue them and fell victims themselves.
A third plane carrying 58 passengers, 7500 gallons of fuel, and traveling at 530 mph was flown into the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., destroying part of it.
A fourth plane carrying 37 people, 7000 gallons of fuel, and traveling at 560 mph crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is believed the terrorists who had seized control of the plane meant to fly it into the White House or the U.S. Capitol building but were thwarted in their efforts by the plane’s passengers, who were able to fight the terrorists and cause them to crash before reaching their objective.
We are a free society and those who attacked us sought to end that free society, to have us withdraw from the world and cower in fear.
What they did not expect was for police officers, firefighters and others to rush toward the carnage in order to try to save as many lives as possible. In doing so, many of them also became victims and the world’s heroes and heroines.
What they did not expect was to see neighborhoods suddenly became real communities, as people who may have never spoken to one another showed up on that day and for many days after at the homes of those who lost family members, relatives, friends and associates in the attacks. Neighbors tried to console neighbors, brought one another food, helped one another with tasks large and small-- all the things we Americans do when tragedy strikes our community or our nation.
What the attackers did not expect to see was many Americans gaining a renewed appreciation for being American, for having the rare and blessed opportunity to live in a free society.
America and Americans took an awful blow to the heart on 9/11, but in the midst of our pain, we again embraced the fact that freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is worth fighting for.
If the victims of 9/11 could speak with one voice today, they might say: "Thank you for continuing to cradle us and our families in your thoughts and prayers. It means the world to us.”
And they might also say with one voice: “Your time here on earth is short. There are no guarantees. It should not require a massive tragedy like 9/11 to unify you. You are Americans and, as such, you should reach out to one another with kindness, helpfulness and understanding every day. That in itself will catch the attention of others around the world and lead them to demand and create societies that have no place for the haters of the world.”
