We Will Never Forget September 11, 2001

     Here is a look at the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001   Nineteen Men hijacked four fuel-loaded US commercial airplanes bound for west coast destinations. A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  The attack was orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

     At the World Trade Center (WTC) site in Lower Manhattan, 2,753 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 were intentionally crashed into the north and south towers, or as a result of the crashes.  Of those who perished during the initial attacks and the subsequent collapses of the towers, 343 were New York City firefighters, 23 were New York City police officers and 37 were officers at the Port Authority. The victims ranged in age from two to 85 years. Approximately 75-80% of the victims were men.

     At the Pentagon in Washington, 184 people were killed when hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building.

     Near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, 40 passengers and crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 93 died when the plane crashed into a field. It is believed that the hijackers crashed the plane in that location, rather than their unknown target, after the passengers and crew attempted to retake control of the flight deck.

As of July 2018, 1,642 of the 2,753 Victims at the World Trade Center have been positively identified, according to the medical examiner's office.

This is the order of things as they occurred on September 11, 2001, 8:46 a.m. ET, American Airlines Flight 11 (traveling from Boston to Los Angeles) strikes the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  At 9:03 a.m. ET - United Airlines Flight 175 (traveling from Boston to Los Angeles) strikes the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  At 9:37 a.m. ET - American Airlines Flight 77 (traveling from Dulles, Virginia, to Los Angeles) strikes the Pentagon Building in Washington. The South Tower collapses in about 10 seconds at 9:59 a.m. ET.   Moving on to 10:03 a.m. ET, United Airlines Flight 93 (traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco) crashes in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Finally at 10:28 a.m. ET - North tower of WTC collapses. The time between the first attack and the collapse of both World Trade Center towers is 102 minutes.

    This is only the losses on that day, but when you factor in all the lives lost chasing bin Laden all over the world and the woes in Afghanistan, and Iraq that were so closely related to the events on September 11^th, 2001. Since then there have been memorials to all of those that lost their lives as a result of the events of this day.  Like most Americans, I have a vivid recollection of that day and watching the coverage of the events as they played out.  Never forget those who lost their lives as a result, and be vigilant for others that might try them again.