NGC: ‘George W. Bush … The 9/11 Interview’

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11, National Geographic Channel aired this in-depth, first-person interview with President George W. Bush titled “The 9/11 Interview.” It is as relevant now as it was then.

Listening to the president’s own words, this documentary is a must-watch for those interested in yet another historical look at an historic day as we go behind the scenes to hear what the president was thinking as each event unfolded on that fateful day.

LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

President George W. Bush and the bullhorn speech

It can never be said enough … we cannot forget the terrorism attacks of 9/11 and the 3,000 innocent souls who perished that day. I hope those who were too young to be impacted by the events of that day will listen to those who were there.

“USA! USA! USA!” Spontaneous chants roared from the crowd of rescue workers on September 14, 2001, three days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, as President George W. Bush stood at Ground Zero and, with bullhorn in hand, said the words that were heard around the world:

8:30 p.m. … 9/11: President George W. Bush addresses a shocked nation

8:30 p.m. President George W. Bush addressed the nation in the evening hours after the horrific terrorist attacks earlier in the day, calling the attacks “evil, despicable acts of terror.” In his brief remarks to reassure the nation, he declared that America and her allies would “stand together to win the war against terrorism.”

Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge — huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil — the very worst of human nature — and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government’s emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.

LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

5:20 p.m. … 9/11: Seven World Trade Center collapses

5:20 p.m. The 47-story Seven World Trade Center collapses after burning for hours; the building had been evacuated in the morning, and there are no casualties, though the collapse forces rescue workers to flee for their lives. LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

9/11 … 2,977 victims and heroes remembered

On September 11, 2001, al-Qaida radicals carried out a series of attacks on America that took the lives of 2,977 — innocent passengers on airplanes, in office buildings, and on the streets as well as the heroes who rushed toward the destructive forces, not away from them. On this day every year each name is read at Ground Zero in New York City. As they read, we remember.

[From 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America: Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77, Flight 93, Pentagon, September 11, Shanksville, World Trade Center, WTC]

Names of 2,977 victims and heroes:

Anna Allison AA 11
David Lawrence Angell AA 11
Mary Lynn Edwards Angell AA 11
Seima David Aoyama AA 11

9/11: Thank you, NYPD

On September 11, 2001, the New York City Police Department lost more officers in a single day than in any year previously. Twenty-three officers died in the smoldering collapse of the World Trade Center as they worked to save hundreds of people from a burning inferno. Their sacrifice is not forgotten.

In memory and gratitude to those who served with our Augusta County friend NYPD veteran Phil Lynch, and did not return …

The 23 NYPD officers lost on 9/11:

JOHN G COUGHLIN, Sergeant
MICHAEL CURTIN, Sergeant
JOHN D’ALLARA, Police Officer
VINCENT G DANZ, Police Officer
JEROME M DOMINGUEZ, Police Officer
STEPHEN P DRISCOLL, Police Officer
MARK ELLIS, Police Officer
ROBERT FAZIO, Police Officer
RODNEY C GILLIS, Sergeant
RONALD KLOEPFER, Police Officer
THOMAS LANGONE, Police Officer
JAMES LEAHY, Police Officer
BRIAN G McDONNELL, Police Officer
JOHN WILLIAM PERRY, Police Officer
GLEN PETTIT, Police Officer
CLAUDE RICHARDS, Detective
TIMOTHY ROY, Sergeant
MOIRA SMITH, Police Officer
RAMON SUAREZ, Police Officer
PAUL TALTY, Police Officer
SANTOS VALENTIN Jr, Police Officer
JOSEPH VINCENT VIGIANO, Detective

WALTER WEAVER, Police Officer

LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … we will not forget.

Remembering 9/11 … facts from that day

“We’ve defeated freedom’s enemies before, and we will defeat them again. … There is a difference between being alert and being intimidated and this great nation will never be intimidated.”

– President George W. Bush, 2001

8:46 a.m. It began with first one tower and then the other of the World Trade Center hit by commercial airliners. America was under attack.

It has been fourteen years since the worst terrorist attacks ever on American soil on September 11, 2001, a beautiful morning in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York City. Most can remember where they were when they heard the news of commercial airplanes hijacked by al-Qaeda terrorists hitting the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and crashing into a Pennsylvania field on its way to destroy the U.S. Capitol or White House in D.C.

Fourteen years later the emotions are still raw for those who were affected by that day. While the memory has faded for some and a younger generation was too little for it to be significant, others will never forget.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists killed 2,977 people and 2,337 were injured. The oldest victim was 85 years old; the youngest was two years old.

Those 2,977 lost souls were from more than 90 nations; most were Americans. Sadly, 3,051 children lost a parent while 1,609 adults lost a spouse or partner.

9/11: Never forget America under attack, those who perished, and the heroes of that day

By Donald C. Williams
Originally published September 11, 2014

I cannot remember what the weather was like on a single other day 13 years ago. But I remember it on this day. It was warm and the sunny sky was a deep blue. Like all of you, I remember exactly where I was that morning … what I was doing.

Then it happened. And like you, I saw the first glimpses of America under attack. The horrific images are seared in our memories.

We must never forget what happened that warm, sunny September day. Nor can we ever forget the nearly 3,000 innocent people who went about their lives as they did any other day … only to be murdered at the hands of truly evil people. And we must never forget the pain and anguish felt every single day since by those who lost loved ones on that day.

A military mom reflects on the anniversary of 9/11

By Vonda Lacey
Originally published September 11, 2014

Blue, clouded skies today. September 11, 2001, was clear, blue skies and the eerie thing was the lack of airplane contrails. This day changed my world, as it did your’s! But little did I know or realize the impact of that change.

My children were in school or day care, and I just wanted to get them, and hug and hold them. Today, my oldest is in Kuwait on his 2nd deployment. And with new orders, just established last night, of fighting this war so close to his location, I am reminded once again of the impact of that day!

10:28 a.m. … 9/11: World Trade Center North Tower collapses

10:28 a.m. North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed 102 minutes after being struck by Flight 11. LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

10:07 a.m. … 9/11: United Flight 93 goes down

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

The heroes of United Flight 93 were ordinary Americans who reacted in extraordinary times. On a hijacked airplane heading toward Washington, D.C., possibly targeting the White House or the Capitol building, and with the knowledge of what had already occurred that morning with the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, passengers took matters into their own hands.

Ordinary citizens became heroes in their attempt to overtake the Muslum terrorists who had pirated the plane, and crashed it into the countryside of southwestern Pennsylvania.

9:59 a.m. … 9/11: South Tower collapses

9:59 a.m. The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.  LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.

9:45 a.m. … 9/11: White House evacuated

The Twin Towers had been attacked by airplanes an hour earlier … Pan Am Flight 77 had flown into the Pentagon … and now United Flight 93 was being followed on radar flying toward Washington, D.C. No one was aware of the struggle going on inside that aircraft as passengers, aware of terrorism attacks earlier that morning, vowed to storm the cockpit and avoid whatever disaster the terrorist pilots had in mind.

The White House was evacuated at 9:45. Employees were urgently directed by Secret Service to leave the building and, as the evacuation was under way, it was stepped up as shouts told them to get away from the White House and Old Executive Office Building as fast as they could. Women took off their shoes and ran in their stocking feet out the White House grounds and onto the street and down the sidewalk. One of them was my sister.

Flight 93 would go down at 10:06 a.m. taking the brave souls with it who prevented further national tragedy. LynnRMitchell.com remembers … may we never forget the herorism of those on Flight 93.

9:37 a.m. … 9/11: The Pentagon is hit

At 9:37 a.m. on September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the Pentagon, killing all 64 people on board including the five hijackers and six crew as well as 125 people in the building.

LynnRMitchell.com remembers … may we never forget.

9:03 a.m. … 9/11: South Tower hit

9:03 a.m. New Yorkers and television viewers nationwide watched in horror as a second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center. LynnRMitchell.com remembers 9/11 … may we never forget.