Nearly 80 years ago Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt made a speech regarding the recent attack on Pearl Harbor as “A date which will live in infamy”. This was by far an attack that shook America, however it also revealed our will as a nation to overcome such tragedies. Fast forward from 1941 to 2001 & America was once again struck by enemies of the State. As technology had progressed profoundly since WW2 we were able to hear, see, and almost feel the sheer terror & fear that gripped all those involved. Truly 9/11 is another day that lives in infamy. 

As the Sun rose early on September 11, 2001 the North & South Towers of the World Trade Center were operating as usual. Birds sang in the nearby trees as people young and old alike talked & laughed as any other day in The Big Apple. At approximately 8:46 a.m American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into The North Tower followed closely by United Airlines Flight 175 which crashed into The South Tower at approximately 9:03 a.m. The masses of people gathered outside to observe & piece together what exactly just happened. To their disbelief smoke & fire bellowed out of both Towers and the race to save the people inside commenced.

Many people trapped above the impact zones in both Towers had no idea just how dire the situation truly was. Recorded phone calls from that day reveal that many building occupants believed that a small fire had merely broken out & needed to be extinguished. Others suggested a bomb or even an earthquake but as time progressed it became clear as the smoke became denser that this was indeed a perilous situation. NYC’s Fire Departments & Police Departments were being flooded with calls from people inside & outside the buildings. Sadly, even after the North Tower had been struck many workers in the South Tower were instructed to stay put because it was a “Safe Zone”.

The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m & The North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. Many firefighters were still inside attempting to free all those trapped on different floor levels alongside many other volunteers. Family & friends of loved ones trapped inside were inconsolable as they watched in person, on television or even while talking on the phone as the final curtain was pulled. However the will to survive by all the trapped occupants resounds America’s will to overcome. The Land of Liberty stood tall & as one throughout this tragedy and as each year passes we must become closer to our neighbor so that in times such as these we’re that much stronger...together.