10 years....

It was almost ten years ago... I remember I was at home, I was a senior in high school but was skipping first period to sleep (not too un-common). I was getting ready when my mom came running in to get me and told me what had happened. At this time the first plane had just hit and there was mass confusion.

I remember thinking how could this have happened? I instantly thought this was an accident, and thinking how could the pilot not see the building! Then we watched as the second plane hit the second tower. That is when we realized this was no mistake. Me and Mom continued to be glued to CNN watching in horror as another plane hit the Pentagon and CNN saying there was a fourth plane that had been hijacked. I looked out the window and remember feeling scared that we were being attacked on our own soil.

On September 11th 2001 19 al-Qaeda terrorist suicide bombers hijacked four commercial jetliners. Two planes hit the two towers of The World Trade Center, one hit The Pentagon, and another was headed to Washington D.C. to either The White House or the Capital Building but crashed in a rural field in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought the hijackers. Nearly 3,000 people died that day.

The president George W. Bush addressed the nation that evening. This was the speech he gave.

Good evening.

Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge -- huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil -- the very worst of human nature -- and we responded with the best of America. With the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington D.C. to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a Power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night. And God bless America.


I loved this speech. It was comforting and made me proud of our country. We later learned the leader behind the attacks was a man named Osama Bin Laden. He became public enemy #1. The days and weeks following the attacks were filled with photos and videos of all the damage and sorrow left. The stories about the hero's that went into the wreckage and were killed, the brave people on flight 91, and the incredible stories of survival were heartbreaking to see and read. They showed walls filled with pictures of missing people left there by their loved ones in hope of finding them alive. It makes me sad just remembering this 10 years later.

For almost ten years Osama Bin Laden evaded us but tonight President Obama has officially announced that Bin Laden has been found in Pakistan and has been killed in a military attack. I am watching Live on TV the mobs of people who have gathered in the streets outside the White House and at Ground Zero to celebrate this monumental event in the war against terror. It has brought back a lot of feelings I had 10 years ago. I do feel like this was a huge win in the war against terror but I know it would be foolish and naive to think this is in any way an end. I know this is not the end in the war on terror but I feel it absolutely is a victory for our country.