On September 11th, 2001 is a day that we will never forget nor should we. An American Airline Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Eighteen minutes later a second Boeing 747 appeared out of the sky and turned towards the World Trade Center and exploded in the south tower near the 60th floor. The results of the attacks were devastating killing over three thousand people in New York and Washington DC. More than four hundred killed were police officers and firefighters and paramedics. Over ten thousand others were treated, many of them with crippling injuries.
As we watched the horrific devastation in New York a third plane circling over Washington DC crashed into the west side of the Pentagon Military Headquarters. One hundred and twenty five people in the Pentagon lost their lives as well as all sixty four passengers on the flight.
The a fourth plane leaving out of Newark, New Jersey bound for California was hijacked. The passengers had learned of the terrorist attack in New York and Washington and knew they weren't going to live. They attacked the cockpit and the plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. All forty five people on board were killed. The intended target was suspected to be the White House, the U.S. Capitol or nuclear facilities.
Quickly the world learned that our attackers were Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab Nations. They were financed by the former Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist organization claiming retaliation in America's support of Israel.
Our lives were forever changed. To all who gave their lives and saved lives as well as those in the military fighting the war on terrorism, thank you.
