Our nation changed forever on September 11, 2001, at 8:45 a.m. It was a clear Tuesday morning, when an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Only 18 minutes after the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center, a second Boeing 767, United Airlines Flight 175 appeared out of the sky, she turned sharply toward the World Trade Center and crashed into the South Tower near the 60th floor. This collision caused a massive explosion that covered surrounding buildings and the streets below with burning debris. 

Many of us remember a country before and a country after, and for many young Americans, only a country after. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 caused tragic loss of life at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a quiet field in southern Pennsylvania which led to conversations and reflection on America's identity, patriotism, security, and service that still resonate today.

On that tragic day, 2,996 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks, including the 19 terrorist hijackers aboard the four airplanes. Citizens from 78 countries died in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

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For many months following September 11, people came together to grieve family, friends, and strangers. It's more than 20 years later, and we still do. Sometimes called “Patriots Day” or “Day of Remembrance”, September 11 has become an annual day for many Americans to remember, reflect, honor, and mourn.

 

Some gave their own lives to save others, those who dreamed of becoming heroes one day, became one that day. 

On this day, we still mourn our many losses. I want to invite you to have a moment of silence for those who lost their lives that day, reflect, pray and remember.

 

We can never replace what was lost that day, or even put into words for some, just how it has left them. The horrific images of 9/11 are etched in the memories of most Americans. The magnitude of innocent lives lost, and countless shattered dreams shocked our nation and changed our world forever. Let us never forget.

 

On this weekend many will take a moment to reflect on our history, on that tragic day in September 2001. 

 

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” — Barack Obama

 

“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” — George W. Bush

 

Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)

There She Stands (Remembering 9/11)- Michael W.Smith

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