Three New York City firefighters raise the American flag at the World Trade Center on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, in this photo taken by Thomas E. Franklin.
On September 11, 2001, Islamic terrorists from the Osama bin Laden group al-Qaeda hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 and flew the planes into both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. 2,753 people were killed, including 343 New York City firefighters, 23 New York City police officers, and 37 officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
That day, numerous individual stories of bravery emerged. One such story is of Father Mychal Judge. Father Mychal, a Roman Catholic priest and a New York City Fire Department chaplain, rushed to the World Trade Center that morning to provide spiritual counseling and administer last rites to those of the Catholic faith.
While in the North Tower with other firefighters and emergency personnel, the South Tower collapsed and sent debris into the North Tower, where Father Mychal was. He was fatally injured. A group of emergency personnel carried Father Mychal’s body out of the tower. All those men survived the day’s events. Had they remained in the North Tower where they had been, they likely would have been killed during its collapse a short time later.
The following prayer was found in the pocket of Father Mychal Judge on the morning of September 11, 2001:
Lord, take me where you want me to go.
Let me meet who you want me to meet.
Tell me what you want me to say,
And keep me out of your way.
Bill Cosgrove, a police lieutenant, was one of the men who carried Father Mychal out of the tower. Cosgrove reflected, “He’s always been on my mind ever since then because it’s my firm belief that the only reason I’m here today is because of him.”
The Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on the morning of September 11, 2001. 184 people were killed after American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked and crashed into the building.
After two planes hit both towers of the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The military personnel inside the building reacted immediately to help their fellow comrades. Army Lt. Col. Ted Anderson was one such person. Lt. Col. Anderson carried two women away from the burning, smoke-filled building who had been thrown out of a second-story window. Anderson re-entered the building multiple times to save others before firefighters wouldn’t allow him to go back again. His story was typical.
“You don’t leave your comrades on the battlefield,” said Anderson, a field artillery officer who worked in the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison. “To me, this was the battlefield.”
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Onboard United Flight 93, in the air over the East Coast, the Islamic hijackers took control of a fourth plane. By then, word reached those on the plane about what was happening with the other aircraft. The forty passengers and crew had no choice but to try to retake control. Before passengers rushed from the back of the plane to the cockpit to retake control, one of them, Todd Beamer, said, “Are you guys ready? Let’s roll!” The “Let’s roll” catchphrase would become a rallying cry for the nation. A battle for control of the plane took place in the cockpit. United Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, killing all on board.
It is widely believed that the terrorists were attempting to use Flight 93 to attack a target in Washington, D.C., likely the White House or Capitol building. The brave actions of the passengers and crew saved many lives.
Ground Zero in New York.
The events of September 11 remain a stark reminder that evil exists in the world. We face enemies willing to kill themselves to kill others. Brave Americans risk their own lives to save others. Today, Americans remain in many places around the world in defense of liberty. We remember them and the 2,977 souls we lost on September 11, 2001.
September 11 has been designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance by Congress and the president. Americans are asked to observe a moment of silence to remember the innocent victims of the worst terror attack in United States history.