On september 11, 2001, nineteen al Qaeda terrorists
hijacked four commercial airplanes, intending to strike the World Trade Center
in New York City and targets in Washington, D.C. The hijackers deliberately crashed American Airlines
Flight 11, carrying 87 passengers and crew, into 1 WTC, the North Tower,
and United Airlines Flight 175, carrying 60 passengers and crew, into 2
WTC, the South Tower. The hijackers also deliberately crashed American
Airlines Flight 77, carrying 59 passengers and crew, into the Pentagon near
Washington, D.C. After learning of the other attacks through cell phone
calls, passengers on United Airlines Flight 93, carrying 40 passengers
and crew, launched a counter-attack on the hijackers to seize control of
the aircraft. As a result of their actions, Flight 93 crashed into an empty field
in Somerset County in western Pennsylvania, instead of the hijackers’
intended target, believed to have been the United States Capitol in Washington,
D.C. In New York City and Washington, D.C., thousands of
people evacuated safely. Tragically, nearly 3,000 lives were lost –
representing the largest death toll from a hostile attack by a foreign entity on American
soil. The attacks triggered immediate rescue and recovery
operations at all three sites. In the aftermath, donations of money and
supplies poured in and people came from all over the world to volunteer their help.
Vigils, memorials, and prayer services were held in New York City,
Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and all over the world. While the voids in New York
City’s lower Manhattan and the destruction at the crash sites are reminders
of loss, the outpouring of generosity and assistance in response to the
attacks demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit.
The above extract is taken from a document published by the 9/11 Memorial (http://www.911memorial.org/)
Wallet found at Ground Zero...
To do:
Interview someone about where they were and what they were doing on the 9th of September 2001; what is the significance of the event to them and how, according to them, should we commemorate 9/11?
