On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 hijackers took control of 4 commercial airliners en route to San Francisco and Los Angeles from Boston, Newark, and Washington, D.C. (Washington Dulles International Airport).
At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 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 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 a.m, after the passengers on board engaged in a fight with the hijackers. Its ultimate target was thought to be either the Capitol (the meeting place of the United States Congress) or the White House.
The death toll of the attacks was 2,996, including the 19 hijackers.
My husband Paul and I were supposed to have an important business meeting in the area of the World Trade Center in New York City around the time when the planes by the terrorists struck the Twin Towers.
A day or two before the meeting was supposed to take place, the other party requested to have the meeting pushed back by a few hours. If this did not happen, who knows what would have happened to us. We could have been two more victims in this horrific tragedy. This day has forever changed both our lives and countless others. We are lucky to be alive.
Because of this day, I decided to change the world through chess. Because of this day, I became energized to make a difference for the sport I love. Because of this day, I became committed to make a difference for future generations.
How did this day change you?
No one cares anymore.
Inspiring…in truth….we are all lucky to be alive!
Thanks for the inspiring story! Everyone is truly fortunate to be a live.
I’m from Kansas. Back 09/11/2001 I was 16 years old and in High School.
That morning I was outside doing marching drills for Jr. R.O.T.C. When out of no where a class mate came running out shouting, “America is under attack! America is under attack! Stop your drill! Come inside!” The videos on T.V. didn’t seem real. Back at the time everyone was instantly afraid. The idea that America was vulnerable to attack, that was new to many people. It was thought the attack was just the start, and more targets were going to be hit. Anyone dressing patriotically or militaristic were told to not do so. Even students like myself who dressed in Military uniform would become targets. So I went nearly a whole year without wearing service dress uniform. The sense of mortality and rage that fellow class mates felt is impossible to forget. Many students enlisted into the military out of a patriotic sense of urgency or revenge. For certain, many people made life changing choices based on 09/11/01.