We Must Never Forget… People Who Tragically Lost Their Lives on September 11, 2001

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Written By: Cindy Bertram, September 11, 2024

It’s hard to believe that the tragedies of September 11, 2001 took place 23 years ago, when 19 terrorists hijacked  four airlines and did suicide attacks in the United States. And nearly 3,000 people were killed. These 19 terrorists were associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda, and they hijacked four different planes. Three were used to strike different cities in the United States. Two different hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Center’s north and south towers in New York City. And another hijacked plane hit the Pentagon. The fourth hijacked plane, United Airlines’ flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after the passengers onboard this hijacked flight attempted to overpower the hijackers. And everyone on that flight was killed including those hijackers. So all 19 of those terrorist hijackers were killed.

When I think back to this emotional day, my heart goes out to the people in the United States who unexpectedly lost their lives, including the passengers on those hijacked planes, police and fire fighters, along with others who rushed to the scene of these horrific attacks. Some 2,750 people were killed in New York City, and 184 people will killed at the Pentagon. Also 40 people were killed in Pennsylvania,  after the passengers on that hijacked flight attempted to retake the plane from those horrible terrorists, resulting in the plane crashing into the ground.

On September 11, 2001, at 9:59 am, the World Trade Center’s South Tower collapsed, and then the North Tower collapsed 29 minutes later. The streets of Lower Manhattan quickly filled with debris and clouds of smoke, as residents and workers ran in a panic to flee that area. Other buildings adjacent to the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers also suffered serious damage. And several of these buildings collapsed.

And yes, the emotional distress that was caused by these terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 was overwhelming.

I was actually driving to work the morning of September 11, 2001, and then while listening to the radio in my car? The radio station they suddenly instead switched over to the latest news of how the World Trade Center’s South Tower had collapsed. And then the  North Tower collapsed. I was in shock and began to worry what might take place next.  At the time I was working as a travel advisor and had clients who had flown on trips themselves. Flights were cancelled and completely suspended.  My  clients did get back safely, but as a result, people tended to be a bit more apprehensive about flying.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created after the 9/11 attacks took place as a way to improve  the security of the United States of America’s national transportation systems, including airports. In November 2001, President Bush  signed the Aviation and Transportation  Security Act, which established the TSA and required federal officials  to screen baggage and passengers.

And over the years, the TSA’s airport screening process has continued on with established security practices that expedite the screening for trusted and known travelers at security checkpoints while also focusing on resources for unknown and high risk travelers.

After the tragedies of September 11, 2001 took place, I happened to run across some photos I had taken while sailing a cruise departing from New York and going to Bermuda. I was sad seeing one photo I had taken, realizing the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers were no longer around.

However,  physical and symbolic void left by the destruction of the World Trade Centers’ Twin Towers was filled with the opening of One World Trade Center on November 4, 2014.  And it is adjacent to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

And yes, we must never and will never forget the unexpected tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001. And as Americans, we need to be thankful for President Bush signing the Aviation and Transportation Security Act in November 2001.