It’s hard to believe an entire generation has slipped by since that fateful day, 25 years ago, when this nation’s reality tilted on its axis.
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Before that day, Americans could not really conceive of an attack like this one — passenger planes slammed into high-rise buildings, the Pentagon, a Pennsylvania field in the deadliest act of coordinated violence this nation has ever seen. They could not envision the images that are now engraved on their memories forever. They could not imagine the horror of that day, which started before anyone was aware.
And they certainly could not have predicted the scars of Sept. 11, and the momentous impact that day would have on Americans’ lives.
The overwhelming narrative of Sept. 11 is the ongoing knowledge of what Americans lost that day. Not just the 2,977 deaths of innocent, often brave people — the workers trapped in the towers, the first responders who perished in an attempt to rescue them, the passengers aboard United Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers. That first-day count was just the start: In the 25 years that followed, federal health authorities have tracked about 150,000 people — mostly first responders and search and rescue workers — who suffered health problems due to exposure to toxic chemicals at the disaster sites. That doesn’t include roughly 9,000 who have already died.
Precious things were shattered that day. Foremost among them was the American sense of invulnerability, which had survived lesser terrorist acts. Americans could no longer simply assume they were safe in most situations, or that they’d be able to detect, and avoid or defend themselves against, threats to their lives. Instead, we were all forced into a pattern of evaluation: How much of a target had our favorite places — theme parks, movie theaters, places of worship — become? Orlando was forced to learn that lesson once again 10 years ago, when a gunman killed 49 people at Pulse nightclub.
The uglier undercurrent was the way some Americans felt empowered by Sept. 11 to unleash bigotry they’d once held in. Sadly, that trend has continued; in Florida, we’ve seen state leaders label peaceful organizations as terroristic simply because they were affiliated with Islam, and legitimate protesters labeled as hooligans and threats to public safety just because what they were saying was insulting to current leaders. This isn’t entirely new, but following Sept. 11 too many governmental officials seem emboldened to play the hate card in a way that hasn’t been seen since the Jim Crow era.
On the anniversary of one of the darkest days in U.S. history, there are better ways to commemorate our losses and seek unity. And that is by remembering the ways Americans sought to underscore their shared humanity, to make each other feel safe, to celebrate the indomitable spirit that is meant to embrace us all — regardless of skin color, creed, background or other things that might otherwise serve to divide us. So long as we remember that we are all Americans first — so long as we fight to be indivisible — terror will never triumph.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Use [email protected] to contact us.
Moment by moment
As you go about your business Friday morning, take time to remember what happened and when:
At 7:59 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 took off from Boston with more than 76,000 pounds of jet fuel on board, along with 76 passengers and 11 crew members bound for Los Angeles.
Sixteen minutes later, United Flight 175 — with the same intended flight path — took off with nine crew members and 51 passengers.
At 8:19 a.m., flight attendant Betty Ann Ong used an in-cabin phone to alert ground crews that hijackers had taken over the cockpit of AA Flight 11.
At 8:20 a.m., American Airlines Flight 77 took off from Washington-Dulles with six crew members and 53 passengers, also headed to Los Angeles.
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At 8:37 a.m., the U.S. Air Force was alerted by Boston’s air traffic control center after a kidnapper mistakenly transmitted a message intended to keep passengers on Flight 11 quiet and in their seats.
At 8:42 a.m., United Flight 93 left Newark, N.J. on its way to San Francisco, with seven crew members and 33 passengers aboard. Americans were still unaware as to what was taking place.
At 8:46 a.m., Flight 11 hit World Trade Center 1 (the North Tower) just below the 100th floor. Hundreds of people died instantly. By 8:49 a.m., all major TV and radio news networks had suspended morning programming.
At 9:03 a.m., Flight 175 hit World Trade Center 2 (the South Tower) at floors 77-85, something millions of Americans witnessed live on network television. Hundreds more were killed. By then, thousands of first responders were on their way to the scene.
At 9:12 a.m., a flight attendant aboard Flight 77 reached her mother by phone and said their plane had been hijacked.
At 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing all passengers and crew as well as 125 military and civilian employees.
At 9:42 a.m., federal authorities ordered all civilian aircraft to land as soon as possible.
At 9:58 a.m., one of the last calls from Flight 93 reached a 911 operator southeast of Pittsburgh.
At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower collapsed, killing hundreds of office workers and first responders who were attempting to evacuate them.
At 10:03 a.m., Flight 93 crashed in a field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Evidence suggested that passengers on board thwarted hijackers’ plans to hit the White House or U.S. Capitol.
At 10:15 a.m., a damaged section of the Pentagon’s outer ring collapsed.
At 10:28 a.m., the North Tower fell, causing more than 1,600 deaths.
At 8:30 p.m., President George W. Bush addressed the nation with a message of resolve and solidarity. “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America,” he said.
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Amen.