We all know and realize what happened on that eventful, infamous day Tuesday, September 11, 2001. What I am thinking of is our children and our children's children- the next generations after us. I am 17 years old, so I am looking at this from the view of a teenager. I still have my whole life ahead of me, but so many others no longer do. This page will stay where it is and will no be moved. It will stand to testify to this truthful account of the events of 91101. I hope the next generations see this page and pause for a moment to think back and ponder these events that have been engraved on my heart. These events have been compared to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but with one major difference. The Japanese targeted military targets- Pearl Harbor. These terrorists targeted civilians, many of whom had no idea that America had any enemies at all.

  It was 8:45 Eastern Standard Time. People in the Big Apple- the great city of New York- were going about their morning business, not knowing what was about to happen. The World Trade Center was the tallest building in the city, with 110 stories, but that was all about to change. At 8:45, a hijacked passenger jet airplane was steered into one of the towers- still carrying all its passengers. At 9:03, a second passenger jet  was steered into the other tower. The passengers of both planes and some of those in the World Trade Center were killed.
We began to think it was over- the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center getting hit was bad enough, with all those deaths and injuries. But we were sadly mistaken. At 9:43 EST, a third passenger airliner hit the Pentagon. Fortunately, it hit the ground before hitting the building, and hit the E section, which was mainly for tours and public access, with no sensitive material in it. The deaths of those people were bad enough as it is. Seven minutes later, at 9:50 EST, a fourth passenger jet crashed in rural Pennsylvania. This hijacked plane had been on a course for Camp David or Washington DC. We can only assume that the brave people held captive on board had somehow crashed the plane earlier than the hijackers had planned, saving countless lives.
Finally, the nightmare was over, but the reality was just sinking in. Survivors were searched for, and the Red Cross sent out a desperate plea for blood. The dead were counted, and families grieved. The President, President Bush, gave a national address that was said to have been probably the hardest address any president has had to make since Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Republicans and Democrats pulled together in full cooperation of the President, with no petty bickering anymore. The World Trade Center had collapsed, and was a thing of the past. Though it was built to survive the impact of a select group of airplanes (those with low fuel coming in to land, or those just taking off, coming from a certain direction), the Twin Towers had been hit just right by fully fueled planes, and had thus been destroyed horrifically. Even the date became important- 91101. 911- the number of emergency- perhaps a cruel joke by the terrorists, perhaps simply a coincidence. Many people I've talked to believe it's the former- that the attack that was so carefully planned was set on that date for that reason.

Americans have grown understandably angry in their grief, but I believe that a new national pride has been instilled in us, as well. We have to admit- it could have been even worse than it was. As President Bush said- we have to get on with our lives. I don't mean to forget this, and I'm not telling anyone else to, either. I'm saying the opposite- remember, and tell your children and their children. Tell everyone about the horrors of terrorists. Remember those we've lost- those 8 pilots and all those passengers- and all the wounded. America is searching for those responsible, but we can't just point a finger and punish whoever that finger points too. It has to be the people responsible, or we are no better than the terrorists. We can't take innocent lives in our grief. We have to stand up for American values and morals, and show the world that America can bounce back from a blow like this. We've done it before- when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Most importantly, we have to turn to God. He knows who did this, and no one is more capable of dealing with this than He is. If America rests in God's hands, no one can defeat us. No one.

There is a poem that sums all this up. It hardly needs an introduction. I did not write it- it was sent to me by e-mail.

91101
Look out on the skyscape, all steel and glass,
This moment is precious, but it won't last.
Now in the distance, the whir of a plane,
Closer and closer, its purpose insane.
A 7-5-7, and twin tower one,
The greatest catastrophe has now just begun.
The plane hits the tower, a sickening roar,
An eyewitness stares in shock and in horror.
A terrible accident has just occured,
At the twin towers, Yes, this was the word.
Brave men and women rushed to their aid,
Look out! A strike on tower two has been made!
A great ball of fire erupts from her side,
The strength of American, now has been tried.
Miles away in W.D.C,
One other strike do the people THERE see.
Passengers once more make innocent pawns,
As plane number three breaks the proud Pentagon.
But wait, there's another, plane number four,
It goes down in a field saving many lives more.
It could have beenw orse, though, you must agree,
Instead of two targets it could have been three.
If not for the brave men aboard number four,
The deaths could have been more than the people aboard.
Plane four was headed for Camp David or D.C,
This plane could have been a worse tragedy.
Plane nmber four was destined to be,
Another atack on humanity.
Too many lives were lost on that day,
There is nothing, nothing, that people can say.
Remember, American, never forget,
The Pentagon or the twin towers yet.
 
 

The events of 91101 left children like 2 year old Alexis Marie motherless, and fathers like John suddenly with no one to propose to.

Don't forget. One way to remember is to join the Tribute to 91101 ring. Click here for information.