IN REMEMBRANCE OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

Sixteen years ago today, the Islamic al-Qaeda hijacked four airplanes in suicide attacks against the United States. 

A total of 2,996 people lost their lives, including 343 firefighters and paramedics and 60 police officers.

Two airplanes were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City.  Another airplane hit the Pentagon just outside of Washington, D.C.  The fourth plane crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania, never reaching its intended target because its crew and passengers fought back against the terrorists.

Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks.  U.S. forces finally tracked him down and killed him at a hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Richard Rezac, World Trade Center responder, Highmore, provides these chilling statistics in Argus Leader “9/11: Never Forget”:  “We’ve already lost more than 2,000 responders from 9/11-related illnesses.  The death toll among responders from their work will, in just a few years, exceed the number of people who were killed during the attacks.  More than 78,000 people are registered with the WTC Health Program, and many of them will eventually succumb to their 9/11 illnesses.”

President George W. Bush delivered a heartfelt speech about the indomitable American spirit from the Oval Office, stating “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”

Let us never forget.