“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.
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