This Day in American History: September 11th - Remembering September 11, 25 Years Later (2001)
On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners in a coordinated attack on the United States. Two planes struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. A third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth, United Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed that day — office workers, first responders, airline passengers and crew, and the passengers of Flight 93 whose courage kept the plane from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in world history and the single deadliest incident for American firefighters and law enforcement officers.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Memorial ceremonies are held annually at all three sites — the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Pentagon Memorial, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania — where the names of the victims are read aloud each year.
A quarter-century on, September 11 endures as a day of national remembrance, a reminder of both profound loss and the extraordinary courage shown by first responders and everyday Americans.
Also on This Day in History
1789 — Hamilton Takes the Treasury
Alexander Hamilton is appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, shaping the young nation's financial system.
1814 — Victory on Lake Champlain
An American fleet scores a decisive win over the British at the Battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812.
1962 — The Beatles' First Recording Session
The Beatles record their first two songs, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You."
1983 — Franco Harris Reaches a Rushing Milestone
Steelers running back Franco Harris becomes just the third player in NFL history to reach 11,000 career rushing yards.
1972 — Munich Olympics Close in Shadow
The Munich Summer Olympics conclude, still overshadowed by the terrorist attack on Israeli athletes days earlier.
Today we pause to remember those we lost and honor the first responders who ran toward danger. Never forget.
Source: history.com/this-day-in-history/9/11
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