September 11, 2001:

Reflections of the past

The 10-storey high sculpture given to the US by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the people of Russia and the artist, Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, to the people of the United States. Firemen hoisting the National Flag of America The second plane making its way to crash in the second twin tower The Pentagon

It was just another day in New York City, with the streets filled with hundreds of people walking here and there doing their day to day chores. Little did they suspect that on this particular day things will never be the same for many people no matter what they try to do to get on with their lives in the 'normal' way!

The September 11 attacks (often referred to as September 11th or 9/11) were a series of coordinated suicide attacks by Al-Qaeda upon the United States on September 11, 2001.

Early in the morning on September 11, 2001, nineteen hijackers took control of four commercial airliners en route to San Francisco and Los Angeles from Boston, Newark, and Washington, D.C. (Washington Dulles International Airport). At 8:46a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 was crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower, followed by United Airlines Flight 175 which hit the South Tower at 9:03 a.m.

Another group of hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. A fourth flight, United Airlines Flight 93, whose ultimate target was thought to be either the United States Capitol or White House, crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m, after the passengers on board engaged in a fight with the hijackers.

On United Airlines Flight 93, black box recordings revealed that crew and passengers attempted to seize control of the plane from the hijackers after learning through phone calls that similarly hijacked planes had been crashed into buildings that morning.

There were a total of 2,993 deaths, including the 19 hijackers: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. An additional 24 people remain listed as missing. All of the deaths in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon. More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center. In 2007, the New York City medical examiner's office added Felicia Dunn-Jones to the official death toll from the September 11 attacks. Dunn-Jones died five months after 9/11 from a lung condition which was linked to exposure to dust during the collapse of the World Trade Center.

The United States responded to the attacks by launching a 'War on Terrorism', invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, who had harboured Al-Qaeda terrorists, and enacting the USA PATRIOT Act. Many other countries also strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers.

The damage to the Pentagon was cleared and repaired within a year, and the Pentagon Memorial was built on the site. The rebuilding process has started on the World Trade Center site. In 2006 a new office tower was completed on the site of 7 World Trade Center. The 1 World Trade Center is currently under construction at the site and at 1,776 ft (541 m) upon completion in 2011, will become one of the tallest buildings in North America. Three more towers were originally expected to be built between 2007 and 2012 on the site.

The Port Authority suggest that 14,154 people were typically in the Twin Towers by 8:45 a.m. The vast majority of people below the impact zone safely evacuated the buildings, along with 18 people who were in the impact zone in the south tower. 1,366 people died who were at or above the floors of impact in the North Tower. According to the Commission Report, hundreds were killed instantly by the impact, while the rest were trapped and died after the tower collapsed. As many as 600 people were killed instantly or were trapped at or above the floors of impact in the South Tower.

At least 200 people jumped to their deaths from the burning towers (as depicted in the photograph "The Falling Man"), landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below.

Some of the occupants of each tower above its point of impact made their way upward toward the roof in hope of helicopter rescue, but the roof access doors were locked. No plan existed for helicopter rescues, and on September 11, the thick smoke and intense heat would have prevented helicopters from conducting rescues.

A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they attempted to rescue people and fight fires. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) lost 341 firefighters and 2 FDNY paramedics. The New York City Police Department lost 23 officers. The Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers, and 8 additional EMTs and paramedics from private EMS units were killed.

A satellite view of the attack on the twin towers

What was left remaining of the twin towers when both collapsed to dust

Weeks after the attack, the estimated death toll was over 6,000. The city was only able to identify remains for about 1,600 of the victims at the World Trade Center. The medical examiner's office also collected "about 10,000 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the list of the dead". Bone fragments were still being found in 2006 as workers were preparing to demolish the damaged Deutsche Bank Building.

Freedom Tower

The Port Authority is making progress on the $3.1 billion Freedom Tower (1 World Trade Center). Located at the northwest corner of the WTC site, installation of steel columns continues as the concrete is being poured to form the tower's base.

The skyscraper is being built according to a revised design released in June 2005. The new design retains essential elements of the original plan, soaring 1,776 feet into the sky, its illuminated mast evoking the Statue of Liberty's torch, but features a smaller, cubic base set back further from West Street to protect the building against future attacks.

Rising from its square base, which will be constructed of impermeable concrete and steel, the redesigned Freedom Tower will taper into eight tall isosceles triangles, forming a perfect octagon at its center. An observation deck will be located 1,362 feet above ground and there will be a square glass parapet at 1,368 feet, the heights of the original Twin Towers. From these, an illuminated spire containing a television antenna will rise to a final height of 1,776 feet.

Memorial Service

Frank P. Perrucci, Chairman of the September 11 Bayonne Remembers Committee, has announced that plans are underway for the community's seventh annual remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The service will also honour the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. The event will take place on Thursday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m., by the September 11 memorial at Harbor View Park, at the eastern end of the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (the former Military Ocean Terminal).

Rev. Robert Pachana of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church stated that the program will include bagpipers; color guards from the Bayonne Police and Fire Departments; the Veterans' Color Guard from the Bayonne Memorial Day Parade Committee; the Bayonne High School Marching Band; trumpet players; and Sweet Harmony, a choral group at Bayonne High School.

Several members of the Bayonne Interfaith Clergy will offer prayers, readings, and reflections. The program will also include students from the Bayonne public elementary schools and All Saints Catholic Academy. Mayor Terrence Malloy will present brief remarks.

Perrucci stated that for members of the public who wish to attend the September 11 program, there will be a shuttle bus that will pick up passengers from West 23rd Street and Del Monte Drive (the location of Catholic War Veterans Post #1612), beginning at 5:30 p.m. At the conclusion of the program, the shuttle bus will transport passengers back to 23rd Street. There are Parking Authority lots with metered spaces in the vicinity of West 23rd Street and Del Monte Drive. There are also on-street, metered parking spaces near the Parking Authority lots. Participants who wish to drive directly to the ceremony can park in designated areas at the Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, beginning at 6:00 p.m. There are parking spaces located next to Harbor View Park.

Perrucci reminded the community that the September 11.Bayonne Remembers Committee is still offering paving stones for placement in Harbor View Park, the location of Bayonne's September 11 memorial. Many visitors have found that Harbor View Park is a beautiful, peaceful space in Bayonne's landscape.

Jerry and Dolores Kelly are coordinating the paving stone sales. Jerry Kelly stated that each Brussels Block rectangular paving stone measures eight inches by seven inches, with limestone coloring and black lettering. The paving stone is coated with a water resilient layer, and each paving stone costs fifty dollars.

Dolores Kelly said that many of the people who purchase the paving blocks state that they continue to have lingering feelings of loss after the tragedy of September 11, and this is a wonderful way of expressing their feelings. Courtesy: Wikipedia