Moments of triumph and tragedy are etched on our national memory. Those who are old enough to remember the assassination of President John F. Kennedy can often recall precisely where they were when they heard the news. Others readily remember what they were doing when they heard that U.S. astronauts had landed safely on the moon.
But in recent years, no event has stirred more painfully vivid memories for the American people than the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 — 10 years ago today.
Many people will mark this day with moments of solemn remembrance for the thousands of Americans who died when four airliners were hijacked by radical Muslims connected to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida terrorist network:
n Two planes struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, bringing them down in a dreadful spectacle of destruction as millions around the world watched on television. Many in the towers managed to escape. Many others — especially those on the higher floors of the tall buildings — did not, and all of the passengers on the planes died.
n Another plane struck the Pentagon, just outside Washington, D.C., killing scores in the building and all the plane’s passengers.