September 11 Anniversary
Today, Thursday September 11, 2008, marks the SEVEN-year anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, which were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by al-Qaeda upon the United States of America.
On that fateful morning seven years ago, hijackers intentionally crashed two passenger jet airliners into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing everyone on board and many others. A third airliner crashed into the Pentagon, with a fourth airliner crashing into a field near Shanksville in rural Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
Excluding the 19 hijackers, 2,974 people died in the attacks. Another 24 are missing and presumed dead. The overwhelming majority of casualties were civilians, including nationals of over 90 different countries. A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they attempted to implement rescue and fire suppression efforts.
The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and a small memorial was built on the site. Rebuilding the World Trade Center site has proven more difficult, with controversy over possible designs as well as the pace of construction.
Many other permanent memorials are being constructed around the world and a list is being updated as new ones are completed. In addition to physical monuments, scholarships and charities have been established by the victims’ loved ones, along with many other organizations and private figures.
It is human nature to question injustice; yet it is also human nature to pick up the pieces and return to living a peaceful life. Our thoughts have always been, and will continue to be, with every person who was directly affected by this tragedy!
