| 9/11 is a day that we will never forget, and we all can remember where and what we were doing on this day 15 years ago. On September 11th 2001 an event we never thought possible occurred, a terrorist attack on the United States was launched. The first attack was on New York City with a plane driven into the World Trade Center towers.
Four passenger airliners which all departed from airports on the U.S. East Coast bound for California—were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists to be flown into buildings. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.
Within an hour and 42 minutes, both 110-story towers collapsed, with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the World Trade Center complex, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center tower, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures.
A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia, leading to a partial collapse in the Pentagon's western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was steered toward Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers.
In total, the attacks claimed the lives of 2,996 people (including the 19 hijackers) and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage. It was the deadliest incident for firefighters and law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.
So today Wagontown was invited to participate in a ceremony remembering all of those lost on this fateful day. The event was at the Friendship Elementary School where we were invited by the staff to attend. Wagontown was joined by members of the East Brandywine Fire Company, West Brandywine, West Caln and Coatesville School District Police.
Principal Bentman put together a program which featured the fifth grade reading a poem followed by the whole school singing a song. Then the first responder agencies were presented a small token of appreciation along with cards the school children made. This was a very nice program and we were honored to be part of it.
The fire service is full of traditions, but one thing for sure is that when it comes to our American Pride no one can ever take that from us.
Wagontown would like to thank everyone who made this event possible so that we may never forget the brothers and sisters we all lost on this fateful day 15 years ago. |
