This past Saturday marks 20 years since the tragic and horrific attack on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On that day we lost 2,996 lives, innocent lives. And since then, America has never been the same, whether it comes to our national security or perception of foreigners. 9/11 was one of the most significant dates in our nation’s history and it’s important to remember what happened on that disastrous day and after.  

September 11, 2001. It was a normal, in fact beautiful, Tuesday morning in New York City, where people went about their business like any other day. Little did they know this one day would change the course of American history. At approximately 8:45 a.m, an American Airline’s Boeing 767 crashed into the core of the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Many people at this point thought it was a tragic accident and in no way correlated it to an attack or hijacking, and the news was circulating slowly around the country. However, exactly 18 minutes later, another Boeing 767, United 175, crashed into the South Tower, which many people saw live while looking at the first plane crash. After that moment, one thing became clear: America was under attack. Two other planes were hijacked as well, one crashing into the Pentagon and the other being taken down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers took control of the plane, sacrificing their lives to save countless others. In the following days, the question loomed — Who did it and why? The answer given was Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, a militant extremist group led by Bin Laden based in Afghanistan. However, 20 years later, it is now less worthwhile to talk about who or what, but rather the innocent loss of life our country faced. 2,996 lives, 2,996 stories, all changed forever. 

So, as we embark on this 20th anniversary, we should come together and reflect on each and every one of the innocent lives taken on that fateful day, seeing what has come of our country ever since, and what we can do to shape the future.