10 years ago today, the most tragic attack on the continental United States in history took place in New York city, forever altering the skyline as if it left a scar. The scar was more than physical though, it was emotional and mental, a pain that many people felt. 10 years ago, an entire decade, and the pain has still yet to ease. It was 8:46am when the first plane, which was supposed to be headed towards LA, hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03, another plane added to the terror as it slammed into the South Tower. At 9:37, the Pentagon was attacked in the same fashion - using another hijacked civilian jetliner. Finally, after dispatchers at airports countrywide - in a historic call - demanded that all planes in the United State of America be grounded, at 10:03 in the morning, a fourth and final plane was crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after it became evident to the hijackers that the passengers may regain control of the plane. Not wanting this to happen, they aborted the plan to fly the plane into the U.S. Capitol and instead rolled over into a field outside Shanksville, PA.
These were not military targets being attacked, nor were these men attacking them. They were civilians being attacked - men and women a lot like you and I that were just settling in at work for what they thought would be just another Tuesday, people that had just got through with their morning commute. They had families, they had pets, they had normal lives with their children and their friends - and the people that cut all that short? Not men, but cowards. That day was the day that those very cowards brought out courage in others though. Whole fire departments and police departments from all around rushed into the burning buildings as everyone else was rushing out, knowing very well that the buildings may be becoming less stable as the jet fuel began to melt the already crumbling support beams. They were nothing short of heroes, people I’m so very proud of, people that I’m sad to have lost.
Courage was found within the average business men and women as well - stories began to surface of coworkers pausing their descent down to safety because of overhearing cries from trapped and struggling coworkers. Some made it, some didn’t. September 11th, 2001 claimed 2,977 lives. 2,606 in New York City, 125 (55 being military personnel) in the Pentagon, 246 split up amongst the four planes, and 19 cowardly terrorist. Not everyone died instantaneously, people suffered. There were deaths caused by the initial impact, smoke inhalation, in the collapse of the towers, and… by jumping hopelessly from the windows nearest to the top of the building. For over half an hour people jumped to their death knowing that they’d never make it out alive, they’d never get to be with the ones they’d love again, they’d never even get to hug them goodbye. And for what? Why do humans have to do this to each other?
Maybe it’s just that a majority of Tumblr is made up of people too young to remember the events vividly, to pay the victims and families of victims their due respects, but I don’t seem to see many people that care as deeply and passionately as they should. 9/11 is historic, a tragic and unnecessary event that will forever bring tears to my eyes, not only as a New Yorker, but as an American.
So many lives were lost in the blink of an eye, so many more suffered and didn’t make it, many wives without husbands, husbands without wives, neighbors were lost, moms, dads, uncles, aunts, pets never saw their owners again, children that were still in the womb at that point never got to meet their daddies, our brave heroes that did not deny help to the helpless despite the impending doom that lay in wait..
I will never forget, I will never forgive. September 11th, 2001 will forever be embedded in my heart along with those poor people that had to endure such pain and suffering from the attacks and as a result of the attacks.
May this never happen again so long as the world turns. 9/11/01 - 9/11/11. One whole decade and it hasn’t gotten any easier. R.I.P.
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