Remembering 9/11

We take a moment today to remember those lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, as well as those who served in the War on Terror to follow.

A total of 2,996 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks, including the 19 terrorist hijackers aboard the four airplanes.

At the World Trade Center, 2,763 died after the two planes slammed into the twin towers. That figure includes 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers who were struggling to complete an evacuation of the buildings and save the office workers trapped on higher floors.

At the Pentagon, 189 people were killed, including 64 on American Airlines Flight 77, the airliner that struck the building.

On Flight 93, 44 people died when the plane crash-landed in Pennsylvania, never reaching its target thanks to the heroic efforts of a group of passengers and flight attendants who mounted an attack against the hijackers.

Operation Enduring Freedom, the American-led international effort to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and destroy Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network based there, began on October 7. Within two months, U.S. forces had effectively removed the Taliban from operational power, but the war continued, as U.S. and coalition forces attempted to defeat a Taliban insurgency campaign based in neighboring Pakistan.

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11th attacks, remained at large until May 2, 2011, when he was finally tracked down and killed by U.S. forces at a hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Please take a moment to remember and honor the civilians, first responders, and military personnel who lost their lives that day, and for those who fought and sacrificed in the conflicts to follow in order to help ensure it will never happen again.

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