On September 11, 2001, tragedy struck New York City in an instant. Flight 11 and Flight 175 had been hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center, unfortunately killing everyone on board. Later in the day, the South and North Tower both collapsed due to the impact, leaving many more dead and injured.
Flight 77 had also been reported hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon in Washington DC. Around the same time, Flight 93 was reported hijacked, but had crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. According to many records, passengers on this flight fought the terrorists and were able to regain control of the plane, but unfortunately still crashed.
Between the 2 collapsed towers in New York, the Pentagon in Washington DC, and the crash in Shanksville, almost 3,000 people died, including hundreds of first responders.
These tragic events even hit close to home for some staff here at Charter. Mr. Alexander is a substitute teacher at PPCHS who experienced the attacks in 2001. Alexander worked at the Fuji Bank office, found on the 79th floor of the South Tower, and was on his way to work when he saw both attacks. He then walked two hours back to his apartment in Brooklyn, covered in dust and smoke.
“I wasn’t at work yet, but I could have been; and unfortunately, many people I worked with were already at their desks. These were innocent people. They were hard-working, responsible people, and some of them even stayed behind to help others.” Alexander lost 23 of his colleagues in the tragic events that took place.
Mr. Alexander says the main lesson is that danger can come from unexpected places. “You have to cherish every day, because you never know what can happen.”
This important moment in American history will never be forgotten due to all of the lives that have been lost. All of the day’s heroes weren’t able to make it back to their families. All of the last phone calls to loved ones stay trapped in a tiny phone, never able to be said in person again.
Now, America comes together as a community to mourn and respect the fallen. People from all over the world gather to reflect on the tragic events of this day.
To make sure this day is never forgotten, New York City built the 9/11 Reflection Pools where the towers used to stand, engraved with the names of victims. The Freedom Tower now stands tall just around the corner, representing a new beginning. Although this marks a new chapter in American history, the fallen heroes and the lives lost will never be forgotten.
