Remember 9/11

It was six years ago today that I stood in front of the bedroom tv, paused in my morning rituals, gawking at the screen, asking the Mister what was happening. We surfed other stations trying to determine what was going on, then realizing that something crashed into the first tower. In no more than a few minutes later, we watched live footage as the second tower was hit. I still get the same sickening feeling in my stomach today as I did that morning.

For me, memories from that day are still as vivid as if it just happened yesterday. But I can't help to feel that 9/11 has become a distant memory for some. Today's blog is in honor of those who died in 9/11, the heroes, those who lost loved ones, and those who are still affected by that horrific day. 9/11 should never be forgotten.

The following information is from a variety of sources (eg, Wikipedia, CNN):

Nineteen people affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet liners that morning or Sept. 11, 2001. Each hijacking team had a trained pilot, all 4 pilots were trained in the US.

American Airlines Flight 11 was the first flight hijacked and the first one to crash into the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. Flight 11 contained the most passengers. Everyone onboard was killed: 11 crew, 76 passengers, and 5 hijackers. 1366 people were at or above the floors of impact in the North Tower. It is believed that hundreds of people died upon impact. The crash destroyed all stairwells and elevator shafts in the tower.

United Airlines Flight 175 was the second flight hijacked, and crashed into the South Tower at 9:03 am. Everyone onboard was killed: 9 crew members, 51 passengers, 5 hijackers. At 9:59 am, the South Tower collapsed. Only 18 people were able to escape from the stairwell from the the floors above the crash.

American Airlines Flight 77 was hijacked around 8:50 and crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 am, 30 minutes after the second crash into the World Trade Center. Everyone onboard was killed: 6 crew members, 53 passengers, 5 hijackers. This crash also killed 125 people in the buildings. The upper floors of the damaged area of the Pentagon collapsed about 18 minutes after impact.

United Airlines Flight 93 did not reach its intended target and crashed in an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania 10:06 am. It is believed based on phone calls to loved ones and flight data record, the passengers and the crew tried to overpower the hijackers. The Commission concluded that the hijackers crashed the plane to keep the crew and passengers from gaining control. Everyone onboard died: 7 crew members, 33 passengers, 4 hijackers. We can only speculate how many lives the passengers and crew members saved from their brave attempt.

There have been some speculations as to the exact number of lives lost. Here are the numbers I found.

• According to http://www.september11news.com/, the total deaths from the WTC Attack was revised to 2,792 in December 2002.


• MSN Encart states about 3000 people.


• CNN calculated 2,973 people died.


• LA Times reported nearly 3000 people died.

One thing for sure, we lost innocent people that day, even one of them was too many.

Remember September 11, 2001.

The White House: Remembering 9/11- http://www.whitehouse.gov/september11/