Every American has heard the story: On September 11, 2001, two twin towers in New York were hit by planes associated with terrorists, causing them to collapse. Since then, every year on the exact date, 9/11 has become a United States Holiday known as Patriot Day. Although everyone knows the tragic event that took place, the desperation of its importance is often overlooked.
The Background of the Twin Towers
The Twin Towers were two identical buildings that were 110 stories and 1368 and 1362 feet tall. The building of The Towers— the North Tower completed in 1970 and the South Tower completed on 1971— began when the New York State Legislature came to an agreement to construct the towers for the base as the World Trade Center. The towers officially opened to the public in 1973. According to the Twin Towers History in the New York City Guide, the twin towers were home to 500 businesses and approximately 50,000 employees.
The Twin Towers became a known place of New York, surpassing the Empire State Building. It was not only the location for the origin of the World Trade Center but it included a beautiful landscape of Manhattan. There were 7 World Trade Center buildings, The Twin Towers being the first and second buildings.
The Attacks on 9/11
On Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m., a plane containing heavy loads of jet fuel crashed into the North Tower. Due to the plane hitting near the 80th floor, anyone above the said floor was trapped and unable to escape the burning building. 18 minutes after the first plane crashed into the North Tower, an identical plane crashed into the South Tower near the 60th floor.
Due to the identical plane crashing into the South Tower after the first, it was identified that the incident was a planned attack. The attack has been named a terrorist suicide attack, for the attackers have been identified as Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia. At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed due to the pressure and jet fuel. At 10:28 a.m, the North Tower followed and collapsed.
Aside from two planes crashing into the towers, another plane had hit the Pentagon near Washington D.C and another in a field in Pennsylvania. The fourth plane crash landed after its passengers rebelled against the hijackers, having heard the news of the other crashes and not wanting to add to the already catastrophic damage. All 44 passengers on the plane were killed. The plane’s original target: Washington D.C. it is because of these passengers’ sacrifice that a strike on either the White House or Capitol building were avoided.
While the 3rd and 4th plane crash are often not heard of, lives were still taken from those areas. In addition to the smoke caused by the fire and collapse of the two towers, people and other nearby construction sites were in danger. The leftover smoke and fuel had caused the Seven World Trade Center collapse.
Civilians, firefighters, and law enforcement officers were victims of this attack. 2,192 employees and nearby residents lost their lives because they were trapped, too close to the destruction, or chose to jump off the top floors of the towers to avoid suffering a burning death. 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers put their lives at risk to save other civilians who were still inside the towers.
Patriot Day— or as it is known, 9/11— is a day that deserves more than just a moment of silence. It’s a day to remember the innocent lives of people that were taken, who can no longer return to their families. It’s a day to remember the heroes who willingly gave up their lives to save others.
