THOUGHTS: Remembering the First 12 Years

On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Often referred to as 9/11, the attacks resulted in extensive death and destruction, triggering major U.S. initiatives to combat terrorism and defining the presidency of George W. Bush. Over 3,000 people were killed during the attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., including more than 400 police officers and firefighters. With nearly 3,000 people were killed that day, it is widely considered as the single largest loss of life from foreign attack on American soil.

And today, after 12 years since the attack, memories of what happened are still everywhere. But families and friends who have lost their loved ones are trying so hard to move on and accept the fate. Every year, they gathered on affected locations, bringing flowers, photos and any memorabilia that they have, and give tributes and prayers.

People all over the world were all shocked when the attack happened. Considering the United States of America as the world's leading nation, attacked by attacked and almost destroyed, who would know they can stand up again and face whoever did this? So many conspiracy theories emerged, but USA is USA. I am a Filipino, in my heart, mind, and soul. Yet seeing a solid country, one whole realm, everything is possible in American Soil. I believe in them and will forever trust their ability to show to the world that they can build again their country.

Here are some of the photos, then and now:

Aerial photo of the World Trade Center site, as it appeared on September 23, 2001

From top to bottom, and left to right: the World Trade Center burning; a section of the Pentagon collapses; Flight 175 crashes into 2 WTC; a fireman requests help at Ground Zero; an engine from Flight 93 is recovered; Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon.

The remains of 6 World Trade Center, 7 World Trade Center, and 1 World Trade Center on September 17, 2001

Aerial view of the Pentagon during rescue operations post-September 11 attack

 

The World Trade Center site 17 days after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Buildings surrounding the site of the collapsed towers are fitted with mesh to prevent further damage and large construction vehicles are being used to clear debris.

 

New One World Trade Center under construction on September 21, 2012

An aerial rendering of the completed Memorial Plaza, and Museum Pavilion.The National September 11 Memorial & Museum (branded as 9/II Memorial and 9/II Memorial Museum) is the principal memorial and museum commemorating the September 11 attacks of 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed six. The memorial is located at the World Trade Center site, on the former location of the Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the attacks. The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation was renamed the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in 2007.

The Pentagon Memorial, located just southwest of The Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, is a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 men and women who died as victims in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The gate to the crash site.

Benches facing the main memorial and crash site.

The white marble Wall of Names positioned on the flight path.

Wall of Names at Flight 93 National Memorial.

The Visitor Shelter at the Flight 93 National Memorial.

The Flight 93 National Memorial is located at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked in the September 11 attacks, in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of Shanksville, and 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Pittsburgh. The memorial was made to honor the passengers and crew of Flight 93, who stopped the terrorists from reaching their target. A temporary memorial to the 40 victims was established soon after the crash, and the first phase of the permanent memorial was completed, opened, and dedicated on September 10, 2011. The current design for the memorial is a modified version of the entry Crescent of Embrace by Paul and Milena Murdoch.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

"We will rebuild. We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again."

New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, September 2001