"All of a sudden there were people screaming. I saw people jumping out of the building. Their arms were flailing. I stopped taking pictures and started crying." -Michael Walters, a free-lance photojournalist in ManhattanSeptember 11, 2001 - the day that shook the entire world and left so many US citizens dead at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania countryside! None of us will EVER FORGET that day because we saw the UNTHINKABLE!
The twin towers were imposing symbols of US prosperity - who would ever imagine two planes slamming into both and within minutes they collapse! A third plane is flown into the defense headquarters of the Pentagon and a fourth plane (speculated to be heading to The White House) crashes in a field when the passengers rush the hijackers.
The horrific events brought tragedy to thousands of families. The al-Qaeda network led by Osama bin Laden planned the evil attacks in excruciating detail. The aftermath brought amazing stories of survival in the rubble and inspiring heroics from firefighters, bystanders, and victims. In the ruins of the World Trade Center, Ground Zero emerges! Patriotism in our country is visible everywhere; we come together through profound emotion and disaster.
President John Adam's wife, Abigail, once said that "Great Necessities call out our Great Virtues." And, it is true that during the year after 9/11/01 we came together as a nation to challenge terrorism! Eight years have passed. But we still need to stop and remember: those who lost their lives, the families who were so deeply affected, and the many HEROES of the day!
We can honor the day by making sure we live up to the words spoken by Colin Powell when he said "You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy."
