Server's Corner

September 11th, 2001 In Honor of the Victims and the Heroes

For the 2,973 people who perished September 11, 2001 after hijacked planes crashedin New York City in Arlington, Virginia and in Pennsylvania. The victims were mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of many faiths and races who came from more than 80 nations.All who were killed died working and living the American dream.

At the World Trade Center

An earlier terrorist bombing of the towers killed six people on February 26, 1993, but left the twin towers standing.

The great majority of the over 40,000 people working at the World Trade Center complex at the time of the attack were evacuated safely, including 18 who escaped from above the impactzone in the second tower. BySeptember 20,2001, 6,291 people, including rescue and recovery workers, had been treated for injuries; only five persons were found alive in the rubble (David Lim, Will Jimeno and John MacLaughlin of the Port Authority Police, Armando Reno of the FDNY, and Port Authority Clerk Genelle Guzman). BySeptember 7,2002, there were 2,792 confirmed fatalities and 1,058 bodies identified. This total includes the 127 people on the two aircraft (not including the 10 hijackers). The dead included 343 fire fighters of the FDNY including Chaplain Father Mike Judge; and FDNY Chief Peter Ganci; 23 officers of the NYPD; 11 Emergency Service medics (EMS); 1 FBI Agent and 1 Agent of the U.S. Secret Service; 37 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officers including Port Authority Superintendent of Police and Director of Public Safety Fred Morrone and Port Authority canine officer "Sirius." Bill Biggart, a photojournalist, also perished in the collapse of the towers. He was the only journalist killed.

American Airlines flight 11

A Boeing 767 on a morning Boston to Los Angeles flight (north towerof World Trade Center). The plane was hijacked soon after take-off at 8:02 EDT, and was crashed into the north side of the northern tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM EDT, approximately between floors 96 and 103. 92 people: 81 passengers (including 5 hijackers, 9 flight attendants, 2 pilots, and also including David Angell, creator and executive producer of the television. show "Frasier" were killed.

United Airlines flight 175

A Boeing 767 on a morning Boston to Los Angeles route. On September 11, 2001, the plane was hijacked and on or about 9:03 AM EDT crashed into the south side of the southern tower of the World Trade Center, approximately between floors 87 and 93, exploding on impact. The plane was carrying 56 passengers and 9 crew members. There were no survivors.

At the Pentagon

The Pentagon reported 125 staffers killed or missing, including the highest ranking officer to die, Lt. General Timothy Maude and Max Bielke, who the last official U.S. combat soldier to leave Vietnam. With 118 remains recovered and identified, as of Sep 2002. One person died later as a result of wounds sustained.

American Airlines Flight 77

64 passengers and Crew died. Among the victims was Barbara K. Olson, a conservative author, lawyer and wife of U.S. Solicitor General, Theodore Olson, as well as two Washington, D.C. "National Geographic Magazine" staff members, three teachers and three children who were traveling to California on a National Geographic Society sponsored trip.

In Pennsylvania

United Airlines flight 93

United Airlines flight 93 was a Boeing 757 on a morning Newark-to-San Francisco route. On 11 Sep 2001 the plane was hijacked by a four man hijacking team. Evidence suggests that the hijacking was apparently thwarted by the efforts of the plane's passengers and flight attendants. The plane crashed southeast of Pittsburgh in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The plan was carrying 37 passengers and 7 crew members. There were no survivors. Todd Beamer, a passenger, tried to place a credit card call but was routed to a customer service representative instead, who passed him on to supervisor Lisa Jefferson. She called the FBI. Beamer reported that one passenger was dead. He asked if together they could pray the Lord's prayer, which they did. Later, he told the operator that some of the plane's passengers were planning "to jump" the hijackers. The last words Ms. Jefferson heard from the plane were "Are you ready guys? Let's roll." The plane crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 AM, killing all aboard. It is believed that this aircraft was intended to be crashed into the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC, Congress was in session at the time.

By James D Roland 1-25-2017