9/11 Remembrance Day: Never Forget
On a beautiful sunny morning on Sept. 11, 2001, the world stood still as millions of people witnessed the horrific terrorist attacks on America unfolding on live television. It's hard to believe one of America's darkest moments took place more than a decade ago.
In a coordinated effort that seemed like a scene out of a movie, 19 men hijacked four commercial passenger planes and intentionally crashed them into the North and South Towers of New York's World Trade Center and the United States' Pentagon. But due to the heroic efforts of the passengers and crew on-board hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, the fourth plane did not reach its intended target and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. And for the very first time, air traffic in America came to a standstill. All flights bound for the continental United States or were flying in American airspace at the time, were halted by the FAA. Many of those flights were eventually diverted to Canada.
People across the nation and world will honor and pay tribute to the men, women and children who perished in the attacks. More than 3,000 people lost their lives on that dark day including many heroic first responders.
United States President Barack Obama proclaimed the following:
"I ask that the people of the United States honor and remember the victims of September 11, 2001, and their loved ones through prayer, contemplation, memorial services, the visiting of memorials, the ringing of bells, evening candlelight remembrance vigils, and other appropriate ceremonies and activities. I invite people around the world to participate in this commemoration."
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