From Majestic Beauties to Ashen Ruins

September 11, 2001 (herein referred to as 9/11) was a day in American history, which will be remembered as the most horrific attack on American soil. This attack, carried out by nineteen Islamic extremists, was associated with al-Qaeda, and involved the hijacking of four airplanes. Two of those airplanes were hijacked and flown directly into the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. The third plane’s target was the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the fourth plane was brought down in Pennsylvania where it is believed the passengers aboard fought the hijackers. This horrific day in history cost over 3,000 people their lives, and was labeled the worst attack on American soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.

Fourteen years ago, our country appeared to come to a halt at 8:46 am. As the first hijacked plane hit the north tower of the World Trade Center, Americans were filled with fear and melancholy. And as they held their breath, awaiting some sense of hope, you did what most people could never imagine doing. You went into the buildings while people were going out, holding your own, in the midst of the immense heat and disintegrating steel.

Two airplanes crashed into the two twin towers in New York City, one slammed into the west side of the Pentagon military headquarters, and the last one crashed into a rural field in Pennsylvania. It was believed that the fourth plane’s intended target was the White House or the Capitol. At 8:45 a.m. the first plane hit the North Tower, instantly killing hundreds and trapping hundreds and trapping hundreds on higher floors. At 9:03 a.m. a second plane struck the South Tower. Minutes later, the buildings collapsed, one after another, leaving heat and debris to billow throughout the city. The temperature could be felt miles away and the suffocating debris was impossible to withstand. People were covered from head to toe with ashes and dying from its effects to the body. It was our darkest hour and we could only turn towards each other for a helping hand and shoulder to cry on. The steady, serene debris continued to fall and darkness filled the sky. Time seemed to slow down, and we felt hopeless, for there was nothing we could do to bring back the thousands of lives taken

On September 11, 2001, the United States experienced an attack that changed our country forever. It was reported by the New York magazine that 19 hijackers were responsible for the 2,996 deaths that day, leaving our country in shock. The official report stated that there was a total of 4 planes involved; Flight 11 crashed into the North tower, Flight 175 crashed into the South tower, Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon and Flight 93 was overthrown by passengers and later crashed into the ground in Pennsylvania. There is no doubt that this was one of the worst tragedies our country has ever experienced but many still question the truth behind it. From the discrepancies in the stories of the event, to the fault in the towers mechanics, it

On Sept. 11, 2001, A date that will live in infamy for Americans, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City. At 8:48 a.m. flight 11 crashed into the north tower. As it continued to burn a second plane flight 175 carrying 65 people crashed into the south tower around 9:05 a.m.. as smoke and debris fill the air in New York City after one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. Police officers and rescue workers on the disaster scene in New York are covered in Ash that was two to three inches deep in places. People wandered dazed and terrified, Several firefighters coated with dust sat on the ground gasping for breath. One top fire official was asked if both towers had completely collapsed: "You

On September 11, 2001 four passenger commercial jet airliners were hijacked and as a result approximately 3,000 human lives were lost. When asked about 9/11, many can recall exactly what they were doing when they heard the news that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings and many Americans can tell you how it all unfolded and the reason behind such a travesty. The “official story” provided by officials, and restated by Sofia Shafquat, producer of “9/11 Mysteries: Demolitions” say that “four passenger planes were hijacked and taken radically off course, within an hour, two of the planes had flown into the enormous steel towers of the World Trade Center, creating fires and eventually toppling them” (Shafquat).

September 11, 2001 is one of the most infamous dates in American history. On this day, 19 radicalized Islamic militants hijacked four United States-based airplanes. Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Thousands of first responders, occupants of the Towers and bystanders were killed or injured. The third plane flew into the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and 125 people were killed. The passengers on the fourth plane revolted and forced the hijackers to crash into a field in Stony Creek, Pennsylvania. A total of 3,000 people were killed and over 6,000 were injured that day (“9/11 Attacks” 1). After the most detrimental terrorist attack in the history of the United States, action needed to

September 11th, 2001 is a day that left deep scars on Americans and America’s history. Extremists from a terrorist group, called al-Qaeda, whose main goal is to make countries that are predominantly Islamic get rid of all non-Islamic influences, hijacked four commercial airplanes, full of innocent passengers, and then smashed one into each of the Twin Towers or the World Trade Center in New York. Shortly after, there was another attack on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Back in New york, both of the twin towers collapsed. The fourth hijacked airplane did not do much damage. It landed on an open field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All together 2,996 innocent individuals died. An emotional impact was left because many people lost their family

Osama bin Laden was the leader for the attack killing 343 people; he had a team from Saudi Arabia and other from Arab nation. The men were acting as an American supporting for Israel that is how they were able to take flight lessons at the American commercial flight school. 19 terrorist snuck in with guns and knives through the security, they took control of four planes planting guided missiles in the plane. Each plane was going to a different state but less than an hour each are being crashed by buildings. First flight flew to New York City crashing into the World Trade Center, second flight turned sharply towards World Trade Center near the south area, third flight flew to Washington, D.C slamming into the Pentagon military headquarters but less than 15 minutes another plane flew into the twin towers, the towers were in smokes and dust and last but least the fourth flight was hijack since the flight was delay everyone saw the news on via cellphone. Once the plane took off everyone was running towards the first class trying to stop the terrorist but failed to save everyone from the plane. What a tragic scene in history we love everyone who has passed away and the sac of his or her lives. History.com Staff. "9/11 Attacks." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2010. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. CNN. Cable News Network, n.d. Web. 28 Feb.

Throughout the novel, “102 Minutes” by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, a common tone is produced about the severity of the destruction of the World Trade Center. A neutral attitude is used when describing the events on the morning of September 11th. When narrating over the tragedies that took place, the authors use specific word choice and real-life examples to display the twin towers collapsing and the stress, fear, and panic being felt throughout Lower Manhattan. For example, Dwyer and Flynn write, “As easily as the roaring jet had knifed through the steel face of the tower, smoke now relentlessly, swiftly, seeped into the top of the building, finding paths around the concrete floors, emerging in billowing, ghastly clouds” (Dwyer and Flynn 37).

As blood trickled down the flight attendant’s neck, the screams of passengers echoed while hoping and praying that it was not their time to perish. A dark-skinned man headed towards the front of the plane, claiming the pilot as his next victim. As this occurred within the four other planes, hostages aboard knew they were living the last few moments of their life. Each tear and scream would ultimately be their last-their last breath taken as the plane crashed into a building of peace, dying with the thought of “I should have said goodbye,” as their lives were taken away in seconds by strangers. Thousands of innocent lives were lost, as well as the hearts of millions of others worldwide who felt the repercussion and heartbreak of these terrorist attacks. The Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001, swept worldwide panic and sorrow, naming itself the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil to date. Nineteen terrorists, four planes, and millions of hearts broken later, the world was now split into the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of 9/11, impacting our environment tremendously both physically and psychologically.

Unbelievably a plane was hijacked after those three crashes. We believe it was headed for the White House. The passengers had forced the plane to crash so there wouldn’t have been any more lives taken. Although the passengers knew they would die either way. People were jumping from 100 floors up. Because they didn’t want to burn to death from the fire. They would have died either way. Those who had found themselves below the crash in the tower, were in the “mouth of hell’. Ash and smoke everywhere outside of the towers. Below the tower debris was falling everywhere. The 1st plane was sensed before it was heard. Sensing danger, the dogs had lifted their heads. Those in the north tower, below the crash, rushed to the ground. 343 firefighters and 60 police officers were killed on the day of 9-11. The age range of killed victims were 2-85 years old. In Washington at the Pentagon, 184 people were killed. Around $500,000 was estimated the costs to plan the attack. To pick up 1.8 million tons of debris, it took 3.1 million hours and had cost $750 million to clean all of the debris up. Terrorist were taking flight lessons and lived in the U.S. for over a year. 19 terrorists were involved in this

In an interview, Skot McDonald talked about his experience on the streets a few blocks from the twin towers, “We started backing away and then had to run from a tidal wave of collapsing debris rushing down the street at us as the north tower collapsed,” (Liddy). McDonald and his friend were photographers and were staying very close to the twin towers. They woke up on September 11 like a normal day. Skot’s parents called him to tell him about the attacks. On 9/11, emergency groups in Manhattan needed to evacuate an area a certain distance around towers to maintain safety for inhabitants and tourists watching in horror.

September 11th, 2001 will be a day that Americans remember for many years to come. A tragedy that killed nearly 3000 innocent people. Fifteen years have passed since that infamous day but it will live on through history forever. Although it will never be forgotten, people tend to read up on the events every year or two, especially around the time it happened. As a way to remember or mourn and gain more knowledge on the attacks, people will often read articles or look at photographs of the event. The article “America marks 15-year anniversary of 9/11 Attacks” and Thomas E. Franklins photograph taken on the day of the attacks serve as a way for people to remember and get that information in their own separate ways.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists took control of four planes and caused one of the biggest tragedies in American history. At 8:45 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., two of the hijacked planes crashed into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, leaving hundreds trapped, dead, and injured. The towers were given unsustainable damage for they both soon collapsed, the South falling first within minutes, the North following a little more than an hour later. As those shocking events were happening, a third plane crashed into the west side of the Pentagon at 9:45 a.m. in Washington D.C., leading to half of the building’s ruin. The last plane –Flight 93– did not suffer as big as consequences as the other crashes, thanks to a group of