On this day, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 Islamist attack on our nation, we honor the memory of 2,977 victims who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist assaults. The victims were murdered by 19 Islamist al-Qa’ida terrorist hijackers, who used four commercial flights to kill their victims.
On the evening of September 10, those victims prepared for the next day’s work and travel. The 11th dawned as a beautiful, clear day across the Eastern Seaboard, with unlimited ceiling and visibility. It started as an ordinary day for each of those victims, but only one would live beyond 10:30 on September 11 — a Pentagon victim who died six days later.
As I noted in my column this week, “9/11: The Islamist Threat Is Still a Clear and Present Danger,” at 08:46, the deadly chronology of events began when American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center.
At 09:03, as millions of Americans watched live coverage in disbelief, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashed into the south tower. Both buildings were saturated in burning jet fuel, and hundreds of people were trapped above the impact zones. Almost 50,000 people worked in the two towers, and the attackers wanted the loss of life to be tenfold the actual loss.
At 09:37, American Airlines Flight 77 from nearby Dulles International Airport crashed into the Pentagon, killing 59 passengers and crew, and 125 in the Pentagon.
And at 10:03, United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh.
As it turned out, passengers aboard Flight 93 were aware of the other attacks. They formed the first line of defense to protect our homeland in the coming battles against Islamist terrorism, forcing Flight 93, which was likely headed for the Capitol, to crash.
At 10:05, millions of Americans witnessed in real time the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsing onto the streets below. At 10:28, the north tower collapsed.
In 79 minutes, it was over. But the consequences were just emerging and will never subside.
In addition to the 2,977 people who were murdered in those attacks, there were more than 6,000 others injured, and many more with the invisible injuries of trauma and loss. Many more would die related to health conditions associated with Ground Zero.
The overwhelming majority of the victims were civilians.
But in New York, there were 441 first responders killed in the World Trade Center attacks. Among them were 344 members of the New York City Fire Department and Fire Patrol. There were 72 law enforcement officers killed, including 37 officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 23 officers from the New York City Police Department, and 12 officers from other agencies. And there were eight EMTs and paramedics killed that day.
They perished attempting to save others, which is to say they made a choice to go into those buildings knowing there was imminent danger of catastrophic failure, and put the lives of others above their own.
The NYCFD’s 344 victims are named on their 9/11 tribute page.
The NYPD’s victims are named on their 9/11 tribute page, as well as those who later died from illness related to rescue operations that day.
The eight EMTs and paramedics are listed by EMS1.
They were fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters.
WE MUST NEVER FORGET. EVER.
(Learn more about all the 9/11 victims at the 9/11 Memorial website.)
The 9/11 First Responders: Ordinary men and women faced with extraordinary circumstances, who summoned the greatest measure of courage to place their lives in imminent peril to save others. Their example of valor was above and beyond the call of duty. Live your life worthy of their sacrifice.
“Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of American Liberty, and for our nation’s Veterans, First Responders, and their families.
(Read more Profiles of Valor here.)
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Pro Deo et Libertate — 1776
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