Five years ago today our nation was the victim of an act of terrorism that stunned the American people and the world. Most Americans remember vividly where they were and what they were doing when they saw or heard about the fall of the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers and the planes crashing into the Pentagon and an empty field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Fatalities (Not including the 19 hijackers): 2,973
World Trade Center: 2,602 dead; 24 declared missing
American Flight #11: 88 dead
United Flight #175: 59 dead
Pentagon Building: 125 dead
American Flight # 77: 59 dead
United Flight #93: 40 dead (outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania)
September 14, 2001, was declared a national day of prayer and remembrance. Americans everywhere waved flags and lit candles for the deceased in a show of national unity and solidarity.
President George W. Bush, just six months later, told the nation, “September 11 was not the beginning of global terror, but it was the beginning of the world’s concerted response. History will know that day not only as a day of tragedy but as a day of decision, when the civilized world was stirred to anger and to action.”
In the past five years Americans have faced economic crises, political differences, wars on two fronts and the stress of everyday living. But it was September 11 that changed our nation forever. Now each day is a “color” on a security risk scale, and we have learned to accept heightened precautions at places like airports and sporting events.
Five years ago terrorism was not part of our everyday vocabulary, and it was certainly not an omnipresent threat. Do you remember?
