9-11-2001: Twelve Years Later

I was in Bob Runyan's homeroom 12 years ago today when I first heard what was going on. I saw he was nervous flipping through channels on the television and I thought Al Queda just bombed another embassy or something and then I saw The Trade Center in NYC smoking.

Then he received a call, flipped to NBC and said, "They hit the Pentagon too." That's when I realized the Trade Center wasn't an accident and we were being attacked. It was one of the scariest days of my life. Coverage on every station from ESPN to Cartoon Network. I remember the sights of people jumping out of buildings, ash flooding the streets of New York City. 

I remember wondering who would do such a thing. I remember the police and firefighters doing what they could to save as many lives as possible sometimes sacrificing their own life. I remember George W. Bush in an elementary school addressing the situation. 

The terrorists took 2,977 lives on 9/11/01 and today is a day to remember those who perished, but also to let other countries know we persevered and we are still strong. This did not crush our country. The United States stood strong and fought back, ultimately catching Osama Bin Laden. Thank you to all of the service men and women who defended our country in light of the attacks and we will never forget 9/11/01 just like Pearl Harbor before. Stand strong. I'm proud to be an American. We won't let those who hate that we are a free country bring us down.

Deaths by Area of Attack	Deaths
World Trade Center	2,606
Airlines	246
Pentagon Building	125
Hijackers	19
Total number of people who died in the 9/11 attacks	2,996
Casualties in the World Trade Center and Surrounding Area	Deaths
Residents of New York	1,762
Persons in North Tower (Tower 1)	1,402
Persons in South Tower (Tower 2)	614
Residents of New Jersey	674
Employees of Marsh Inc.	355
Firefighters	343
Employees of Aon Corporation	175
Port Authority police officers	37
Police officers	23
Paramedics	2
1 firefighter was killed by a man who jumped off the top floors
Casualties on the Airplanes	Deaths
American Airlines Flight 11 (North Tower)	87
United Airlines Flight 175 (South Tower)	60
American Airlines Flight 77 (Pentagon)	59
United Flight 93 (Shanksville, PA)	40
Casualties inside the Pentagon	Deaths
Military and civilian deaths	125

(Courtesy http://www.statisticbrain.com/911-death-statistics/)

As I sit here, working in Cincinnati's largest tower, I feel safe.  I feel like that because of our military and the safety measures airports take now.  The next time you complain about the way TSA handles things, remember why they are doing it, to protect you.  Freedom isn't always free and I'm willing to wait a little longer and even get stripped searched if it guarantees my plane isn't going to get hijacked and slammed into a building.  

Quote of the Day: "We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."-President George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks.

Song of the Day: Have you Forgotten by Darryl Worley