PATRIOT DAY

This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It was a terrifying day when four planes were hijacked on September 11, 2001. The hijackers flew three planes into iconic buildings: the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after the plane passengers fought the hijackers. Nobody is certain where it was supposed to crash, but some people believe it was headed for the White House, the U.S. capitol, the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, or one of several nuclear power plants along the eastern seaboard.

The impact of this attack was devastating. A total of 2,977 people were killed on 9/11 and more than 6,000 injured. The total dead included the hijackers, the plane passengers, pilots and crew; 2,606 people in the World Trade Center and nearby areas and 125 people in the Pentagon.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, President George W. Bush proclaimed Friday, September 14th, 2001, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. A bill to make September 11, 2001 a national day of mourning was introduced in the U.S. House on October 25, 2001. The result was the resolution to proclaim September 11, 2002, as the first Patriot Day. President Barack Obama proclaimed September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance.

On Patriot Day, U.S. flags are lowered halfway and there is a country-wide moment of silence at 8:46AM which is when the first plane crashed into one of the Twin Towers.

Patriot Day gives all of us time to reflect on the devastating terror attacks that took nearly 3,000 lives. We commemorate those who we lost and give thanks to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line. Let us all take a moment to consider what we stand for as a nation and how we can work together to make the world a better place for all.

My they rest in peace.