It’s been fourteen years, so the exact memories can become murky, lost in the deepening haze of time.
But we are still keenly aware that the act committed by those nineteen Islamic terrorists, all men of Middle Eastern descent, changed our lives—our world—forever.
Today, we must refresh our memories to remind ourselves of who we lost, of why things have not been the same since.
8:46:40 am EDT:
87 innocents died on American Airlines Flight 11 when the hijackers flew the plane into One World Trade Center, the North Tower.
9:03 am EDT:
60 innocents died on United Airlines Flight 175 when the hijackers flew the plane into Two World Trade Center, the South Tower.
These and the collapse of the Twin Towers not long thereafter resulted in the deaths of 2,606 more innocent people.
Among those who perished in these attacks were
- 1 fire marshal.
- 1 member of the FBI.
- 1 member of the Secret Service.
- 8 EMTs and paramedics.
- 71 members of law enforcement.
- 343 members of the New York Fire Department.
9:37 am EDT:
59 innocents died on American Airlines Flight 77 when the hijackers flew the plane into the Pentagon.
As a result, 125 other innocents died at the Pentagon. Among the 125 were 55 members of the military.
10:03:11 EDT:
40 innocents died on United Airlines Flight 93, its passengers overtaking the plane from the hijackers, the plane crashing to earth in a field outside the borough of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Including the eleven babies who were never allowed the chance to be born, 2,988 lives were stolen by the terrorists that horrifying day, their flames extinguished early for no other reason than they traveled, worked, played, learned, loved, and lived in the land of the free.
We cannot allow ourselves to forget the events of that day.
We cannot allow ourselves to forget who this nation lost that day, many of them heroes who were trying to save the lives of others.
And let us not forget those who would suffer to never again see their loved ones alive after the events of that day. Pray for them.
This post is in honor and remembrance of all who were murdered in the attacks on these United States of America on Tuesday, September the 11th, 2001.
