9/11: Hope in the Face of Tragedy

ALL >> "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." Those words are inscribed on a wall at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City, NY. The memorial commemorates the tragic events that took place Sept. 11, 2001, when 19 radical terrorists took control of four United States airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. The attacks not only contributed to putting America at war with the Middle East, but also brought together the American people – and the world – in a display of support, unity and compassion for the U.S. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on 9/11 and more than 6,000 were injured. At least $10 billion was lost in property and infrastructure damage, but the total cost ranks in at $3 trillion. Some of the largest numbers of personnel life loss were sustained that day – 343 firefighters died immediately when the Twin Towers collapsed, along with 60 police officers and eight paramedics. The stories of the thousands of civilians, firefighters and police force who lost their lives on that fateful day live on in the hearts of the American people, and continue to be commemorated year after year. This year will mark the 15th anniversary. To this day, the stories of those brave men and women have not been erased from the memory of time. At 7:59 a.m., on Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767 aircraft, departed from Boston’s Logan International Airport, headed to Los Angeles, with 11 crewmembers, 76 passengers and five hijackers on board. By 8:14 a.m., the United Airlines Flight 175, also a Boeing 767, departed from Logan Airport, headed to Los Angeles, with nine crewmembers, 51 passengers and five hijackers on board. At 8:20 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77, a Boeing 757 aircraft, departed from Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, headed to Los Angeles, with six crewmembers, 53 passengers and five hijackers. At 8:42 a.m., United Airlines Flight 93, also a Boeing 757, departed Newark International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, headed to San Francisco, with seven crewmembers, 33 passengers and four hijackers. The events that took place afterward unfolded rapidly. The hijackers, having overtaken Flight 11, crashed the airplane into the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8:46 a.m., which began to burn for the next 102 minutes. At 9:03 a.m., hijackers crashed Flight 175 into the World Trade Center’s South Tower, which began to burn for the next 56 minutes. Flight 77, overtaken by hijackers, crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m.. The west side sustained extensive damage. At 10:03 a.m., passengers fight the hijackers of Flight 93, which crashes and burns in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The believed target of the flight is either the Capitol or the White House. Though the North Tower had been hit first, the South Tower is the first to collapse to the ground at 9:59 a.m., with the North Tower following at 10:28 a.m. Debris fell on 7 World Trade Center, which is nearby, and the fires that started there burn all afternoon, resulting in the collapse of 7 WTC at 5:21 p.m. On Sept. 14, 2001, President George W. Bush visited Ground Zero, the demolition of the World Trade Center, and addressed the American people, saying, “I want you all to know that America today, America today is on bended knee, in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn.” The outpouring of support from the nation and surrounding countries is a testament to this fact – the greatest of humanity is shown in the greatest of tragedy. A memorial and museum has been built at Ground Zero to commemorate the lives lost that day. Nationwide, thousands of people mourn every Sept. 11 and remember the events that happened, initiated by radicals whose intention it was to destroy America. Instead, America rose up. The Inland Empire has done its part to remember, as well. In 2012, community members of Loma Linda gathered outside the City of Loma Linda Fire Department to dedicate a relic – a steel beam recovered at Ground Zero – that a year later, stood as a memorial in Loma Linda of the tragic events that occurred. In 2013, Cooley Ranch Elementary School students in Colton observed a moment of silence as Colton High School NJROTC (Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) Color Guard presented the colors. “We know what happened to the Twin Towers and most (of the students) have seen pictures of that day, but we want to promote the heroes,” said Valerie Villareal, principal, in a previous article with City News Group. She added they also wanted the students to know the feelings of unity and compassion that came about after 9/11. “Those events occurred in tragedy,” she said, “but even 12 years later, we are still united in our sense of compassion for one another.” In 2014, firefighters from the cities of Loma Linda and Colton came together for a Memorial Ceremony and Ride, not only to benefit Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, but also to remember with other community member what was lost on 9/11. Members of Firefighters of Local 935 Pipes and Drums performed to honor the lives that were lost. Let us remember that greatness as we take a moment of silence this Sept. 11.