September 11th, 2001 shocked the U.S emotionally and economically when 2 hijacked American Airlines Boeing 767s crashed into the World Trade Centers while other terrorist attacks were carried out across the neighboring states. The devastating loss of life that damaged the soul and pride of America in events that would lead to the deadliest attack on American soil. As every American knows, 9/11 was a day of chaos, confusion, and total destruction.  At 8:45 am on the 11th of September 2001 an American Airlines Boeing 767 loaded with 20,000 gallons of jet fuel crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Centers in New York City. At the time it was assumed that it was a horrific flight accident, but when the second Boeing 767 hit the south tower that’s when the American population figured that this was something other than 2 accidental plane crashes. Many emotions went through Americans at the time, some included disbelief that something like this could happen. And despair for some who lost friends and loved ones in the attacks.“At the time we had a family friend in the Pentagon and he unfortunately died when the plane hit the building.” Mrs. Dossey said.

Most people were at work or in school when news broke out about the attacks. My father, Karl Bielfeldt was at Fort Sam Houston at the time and he said, “When reports of attacks in New York came in the base we went into full lockdown. They came over the loudspeakers and told all civilians to evacuate the fort immediately. When I got back to my recruiting station they told us to go home in street clothes because they didn’t know the extent of the situation. Some saw what happened because their parents were watching the news on the TV.” Mrs.Thomas said. At the time she was in 3rd grade and her parents happened to be watching the news when the attacks happened.

Even in a time of despair Americans came together and fought back against the people who caused us pain and suffering on that day. On October 7, 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom, an American lead international military operation was launched. In 2002, The Department of Homeland Security was created to prevent an attack of that scale from happening again. But nothing is perfect, there is still a risk that another terrorist attack even bigger than 9/11 could happen. “The only worry I had at the time was were there any sleeper cells, which are inactive terrorists that can be activated at a moment’s notice and carry out an attack,” said Coach Beef. Due to the work of our nation’s military and government we can hope that there will never be another attack like 9/11.

Since this nation was founded, under God

More than 200 years ago

We have been the bastion of freedom

The light that keeps the free world aglow

We do not covet the possessions of others

We are blessed with the bounty we share.

We have rushed to help other nations

anything, anytime, anywhere.

War is just not our nature

We won’t start, but we will end the fight

If we are involved we shall be resolved

To protect what we know is right.

We have been challenged by a cowardly foe

Who strikes and then hides from our view.

With one voice we say, “We have no choice today,”

There is only one thing to do.

Everyone is saying the same thing and praying

That we end these senseless moments we are living.

As our fathers did before, we shall win this unwanted war

And our children, will enjoy the future, we’ll be giving.

Poem by: Jack Buck