September 11th, 2001
The Attacks
The morning of Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, would soon be one of the most devastating days in the United States history. The attacks began at 8:46 am with four coordinated suicide attacks towards the U.S. located in New York City and Washington D.C. The attacks were carried out by nineteen terrorists from the Islamic Al-Qaeda organization. The flights that were overtaken by the Islamic Al-Qaeda group were American Airlines flights 11, 175, 77, and 93. Flights 11 and 175 were flown into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. The towers collapsed within two hours and set fires that would soon catch other buildings near by on fire. Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon in Washington D.C.. Flight 93 was intended to be flown into the Washington Capitol Building in D.C., but the brave passengers found out the "pilot's" intentions and took over the plane and crashed it into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. By 10:28 am the attacks were finished but the fear and fight would never be over.
New york times newspaper
President Bush's Reaction
At 8:48 a.m., the towers were hit and the U.S. was launched into panic. At 9:03, the current president, George W. Bush, was occupied by a group of second graders at their elementary school located in Florida for a pre-planned photo-op. The President had just received news of what was going on in New York City, his first reaction was anger at whoever had done this as anyone else in American most likely have been. After those emotions of hatred, he looked out at the anxious children's faces and his anger was replaced with an instinct. The president put the children's fears before his own and kept them calm, carrying life on as normal as it could be for them. Later that evening, Bush told the disastrous news to the media so the advertisements could reach out to the citizens of America in everyone's time of need. In his speech, he addressed those who lost their lives in that day and those who fought to save those in peril. He addressed the ones who harmed our country and let them know they would be found, and killed. He expressed his heartache for those who lost family and friends and thanked those for reaching out and helping in any way possible. After ending the speech with a prayer, he expressed how important it was that Americans stand together and stay strong no matter what. Which is what America has always been known for, since the beginning America has never truly gave up. In any circumstance we never have thought with regret but hope and intensity that together America can get through everything, and 911 was not an exception.
bush's speech
Good evening.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into
buildings, fires burning, huge -- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil -- the very worst of human nature -- and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they
could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well. The search is underway for those
who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in
Psalm 23:Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into
buildings, fires burning, huge -- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.
A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil -- the very worst of human nature -- and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they
could.
Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well. The search is underway for those
who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.
I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.
Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in
Psalm 23:Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.
This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.
New york's reaction
The entire nation suffered from the 9/11 attacks, although it would be fair to say that New York City's wounds were the deepest, by the major two attacks of Twin Towers; very important buildings to New York, and that most of the lives lost were New York citizens. That was the biggest insecurity; children lost parents, parents lost children, and the city, and country, lost it's sense of safety. 1,300 children were orphaned, and 17 babies were born fatherless due to the attacks. The thought of events reached the minds of New Yorkers and they quickly feared another terrorist attack. After the towers collapsed, many of the city goers found themselves wandering around the city, at loss for words for what happened, at loss for what to do in such a crisis. It was truly a attack but more a giant surprise, the people tried to help out as much as possible; many gave blood for those waiting in the hospitals to be healed. A total of 36,000 units of blood were donated to the New York Blood Center. One of the most alarming statistics of all is that there is an estimated 422,000 New Yorkers with post-traumatic stress disorder from that horrible day over 11 years ago. It comes to show that America will never be the same.
Just doing my job
Statics of 9/11
inside the world trade center
Just three months after the World Trade Center collapsed on top of him, Pasquale Buzzelli, returned to his desk at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Buzzelli was a numbers person that was used to calculating risk, still hadn’t been able to understand what had happened to him. “When you start to think about the numbers,” he says, “it doesn’t really seem possible that I’m alive.” Still, he told himself, “Shrug it off, move on, get back in the saddle.”
Buzzelli’s office had been on the 64th floor of the North Tower. At about 10 a.m. on September 11, 2001, he had called his wife for the second time that morning. “Don’t worry,” he said. She was seven months pregnant and at their home in Rivervale, New Jersey. He assured her that he and a dozen other employees were about to head down a stairwell. He’d investigated. It was free of smoke so Buzzelli took the lead. The stairs were narrow, noisy, and clogged with people.
As he had reached the 22nd floor, the building shook, stairs started to sway and it sounded to Buzzelli like heavy objects were being dropped right above his head. The sounds became louder and closer so he dove into a corner. “I felt the walls next to me crack and buckle on top of me,” he says. Suddenly, it seemed to him like he was in free fall, and the walls were seperating and moving away from him.
After two hours or so, he regained consciousness 180 feet below the 22nd floor. He was sitting on top of a pile of rubble in the midst of an endless field of rubble, smoke, and fire. He felt numb and found it hard to breathe because the air was thick with smoke and dust. He then heard more explosions.
Buzzelli looked around and thought to himself 'I'm dead.' His right leg, though, was in pain, a sign that he was alive. He pulled his
shirt over his face to breathe. He shouted for help. A little later, a fireman appeared a short distance below. “Holy crap, guys, we have a civilian up there,” the fireman called. Soon, half a dozen firefighters reached Buzzelli and led him across the huge piles of debris with a rope tied around his waist. When the fireman could no longer hold him, he put him on a stretcher and talked to him to keep him conscious.
By December 2001, Buzzelli thought he should get back to his job even though he was still on crutches from the broken foot he had suffered.
This is just one of the many examples of the miracles that happened that day in 2001. Even though their were huge amounts of tragedies, some good was still achieved that day.
Buzzelli’s office had been on the 64th floor of the North Tower. At about 10 a.m. on September 11, 2001, he had called his wife for the second time that morning. “Don’t worry,” he said. She was seven months pregnant and at their home in Rivervale, New Jersey. He assured her that he and a dozen other employees were about to head down a stairwell. He’d investigated. It was free of smoke so Buzzelli took the lead. The stairs were narrow, noisy, and clogged with people.
As he had reached the 22nd floor, the building shook, stairs started to sway and it sounded to Buzzelli like heavy objects were being dropped right above his head. The sounds became louder and closer so he dove into a corner. “I felt the walls next to me crack and buckle on top of me,” he says. Suddenly, it seemed to him like he was in free fall, and the walls were seperating and moving away from him.
After two hours or so, he regained consciousness 180 feet below the 22nd floor. He was sitting on top of a pile of rubble in the midst of an endless field of rubble, smoke, and fire. He felt numb and found it hard to breathe because the air was thick with smoke and dust. He then heard more explosions.
Buzzelli looked around and thought to himself 'I'm dead.' His right leg, though, was in pain, a sign that he was alive. He pulled his
shirt over his face to breathe. He shouted for help. A little later, a fireman appeared a short distance below. “Holy crap, guys, we have a civilian up there,” the fireman called. Soon, half a dozen firefighters reached Buzzelli and led him across the huge piles of debris with a rope tied around his waist. When the fireman could no longer hold him, he put him on a stretcher and talked to him to keep him conscious.
By December 2001, Buzzelli thought he should get back to his job even though he was still on crutches from the broken foot he had suffered.
This is just one of the many examples of the miracles that happened that day in 2001. Even though their were huge amounts of tragedies, some good was still achieved that day.