New York remembers September 11th
Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan filled up Monday morning as Americans gathered to commemorate the 16th anniversary of 9/11.
Visitors wore pictures of loved ones around their necks and tucked red roses and American flags into the engraved names on the bronze parapets surrounding the reflecting pools.
East Rutherford, NJ, resident James Taormina came to the site for the very first time to remember his brother, Dennis, a 36-year-old vice president of finance at Marsh & McLennan, who died in the North Tower that day.
“It feels like yesterday,” said Taormina, 39. “I woke up that morning to a phone call from my mother telling me the plane had hit the building and my brother was inside.
“I held hope for weeks until I saw a magazine that showed where the plane hit and I figured he was killed on impact.”
“I never liked driving in the city, but maybe there was a little emotional stress as well,” Taormina said about why he never came before. “It’s a little easier for me now.”
The ceremony at Ground Zero is marked by six moments of silence — to mark the times each plane hit the Twin Towers, to mark when each tower fell and to mark the attacks on the Pentagon and Flight 93.
The names of the nearly 3,000 victims of both the 9/11 and the 1993 World Trade Center attacks are also read.
The annual recitation included touching personal remembrances.
“I know you’re looking down at me with a big, big smile on your face,” said Connor Murphy while fighting back tears. He lost his father, Kevin James Murphy.
Magaly Lemagne broke down before collecting herself to read her brother’s name, David Prudencio Lemagne. She remembered the slain Port Authority and New Jersey police officer as “the embodiment of selflessness and bravery.”
“I hope today as we commemorate the 16th anniversary of 9/11, everyone will stop for a moment and remember all the people who gave their lives that day,” said Lemagne. “Maybe then we can put away our disagreements and become one country again.”
Young grandchildren of 9/11 victims also attended the ceremony, though they’d never gotten the chance to meet their lost relatives.
“I wish more than anything that I could have met you,” Ruth Daly said after reading the name of her late grandmother, Ruth Sheila Lapin. “I’m very proud to be your namesake. I hope you’re watching down on me from heaven.”
Dignitaries at the Manhattan event included Mayor Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Sen. Charles Schumer and former Mayor Mike Bloomberg.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump somberly stepped out of the White House to observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower.
They bowed their heads with other staffers on the South Lawn as bells tolled and placed their hands over their hearts as taps was played.
The president will participate in a 9/11 observance at the Pentagon, where 184 people were killed when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. Most were service members in the Army and Navy.
Trump, who was in New York during the terrorist attacks, spoke of the strength of America after 9/11 and gave thanks to our military.
“We shed our tears in their memory, pledged our devotion in their honor and turned our sorrow into unstoppable resolve to achieve justice in their name,” the president said of the 9/11 victims. “The terrorists who attacked us thought they could incite fear and weaken our spirit, but America cannot be intimidated, and those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dare to test our mettle.”
Trump also praised the work of Sgt. Isaac Hoopii, who responded that day and rescued as many as 20 people when the Pentagon was struck.
“He sped to the scene and raced into smoke and fire — few people would’ve done it,” Trump said. “In the pitch black, he began calling out to people in need of help. Isaac heard faint voices and he wanted to answer those faint voices. One by one, he carried people out of the burning rubble.”
Vice President Mike Pence and US Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke delivered remarks at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where passengers brought down the plane during a courageous revolt against the al Qaeda hijackers.
Bells tolled and names of the 33 passengers and seven crew members of United Flight 93 were read. On Sunday, ground was broken on the park’s final element — a 93-foot Tower of Voices with 40 tubular wind chimes, one for each victim. It is scheduled to be completed by next year’s anniversary.
*When do you remember learning about September 11th for the first time, Explain? What did you think and feel?
*What information in this article do you find most interesting? Explain your feelings about the article and what sticks out to you?
When I first heard about the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001 I was very shocked. I learned a lot about it when I was in 5th grade. We learned that hijackers took over four planes. Three of those hijackers crashed into buildings. The two that are most known are the two planes that hit the twin towers in New York. Then we learned about the one that hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. Finally we were taught the fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We watched a video explaining who the people were who did this and why they did it. It was very heartbreaking to hear that people with hearts can do that and damage so many families without even thinking twice.
ReplyDeleteFor me what stood out in the article was when Donald Trump made remarks about the Sgt. Isaac Hoopii running into the Pentagon. He said “He sped to the scene and raced into the smoke and fire - few people would’ve done it” This stood out to me because a fellow American went in a burning building putting his life on the line to help and save others. In the pitch black smoke he saved around 20 people that day. This is very interesting because as Donald Trump said most people would not have done that.
THis was very well put Zach and I was the same way when heard about 9/11.After a while and you and I keep hearing about and seeing videos the fear factor starts to show.I also feel the same way about how you said people that type of heart did a lot of damage to others.Sgt.Hoopii running into the Pentagon also stood out to me and I am glad that you brought that up in your blog .Keep up the good work. :)
DeleteThe first time I had ever heard and even learned about 9/11 was when I was in 5th grade in miss robinson's class on that fateful when i finally was told i didn’t know what to think about because I had never heard of it but over time it sink in and then I got the real fear factor of how everybody else was feeling on the day of the terroristic attack.That afternoon when I came home my parents sat me down and told me to watch the tv.There was a documentary and I said too my parents that I was talking about this in my history class,but as the documentary went on I started to get very sad and I looked away and when I turned my head BOOM I saw the second plane crash into the South tower and it was so surreal I couldn’t believe that this actually happened and then I felt a tear rolling down my cheek and I just sat their and watched in horror like it was something out of a movie.After it was over I jumped into my mom’s arms because this scared me now looking back at what happened my mom use to work in an casino as a secretary and those have a lot of people and a lot of money there too so if they wanted too they could have there they could have hit anywhere in the United States.That day was a true horror but it also united the United States there was boats that were getting people out of Manhattan and bringing them to New Jersey and for me to think how close those planes were too New Jersey is very frightening to me I hope we can prevent any other acts like this in the US.
ReplyDeleteI also learned about this in 5th grade too Hunter. As you said one of the things that striked me the most was how close the attacks were to New Jersey. If it can be that close it could be near my home or your home. I think that another thing that was memorable was the unification of the United States. People got together and did what was needed at the time. I also thought that this was a very horrifying event in American history.
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DeleteI agree with you it is horrible. The planes shouldn't be that close. These people are stupid. Why would anybody kill them selves, just to destroy a building. The part that I don't like the most is that they didn't give a warning. They just did it, and now it's a big memory in the U.S.
DeleteI remember learning about September 11 in 2nd grade. My teacher first told us what terrorists were. She then explained what the objects were that crashed into the World Trade Center. She told the whole class that they were planes. She told us that they were military planes because she didn’t want to scare us as to what terrorists were. But, I already knew what they were. My dad and I use to watch war movies all the time when I was about 5 years old in Kindergarten.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most interesting in the article was actually how many people hijacked the planes and how many people were on board. I also thought that the plane crashing into the the Pentagon, and also the one that landed in the field in Pennsylvania.
Also the ceremonies they put together for the fighters. They put together ceremonies in remembrance of the people who died in September 11. I was interested in learning about the planes more than the rest of the article. I don’t get why terrorists are so stupid. They like to hurt and kill people for fun. America doesn't start fights with other countries. We are our own. So, why do terrorists do this to people.
I also thought that the planes getting hijacked were very interesting. The ceremonies were a very important part.
DeleteI have to disagree with you, we have started fights with other places before in the past. And because that's what terrorist believe in and sometimes they join because they're scared they'll kill them.
DeleteI remember learning about this in 1st grade for the first time, I don't think i was to young but it definitely didn't help with my fear of planes. I remember coming home and seeing the videos for the first time and just thinking how could someone ever do something so horrible. But over the years i've learned more about how it was a terrorist attack on american soil. Its very sad what happened but they say things happened for a reason. I still think what would have happened if they didn't crash into the tower or even hijacked the plane. The article i find the most interesting would have to be the ones about the family. Because it really gives you an inside on how families found out and how they deal with every day. Especially when 9/11 comes around every year its really sad. This whole story really makes feel sad because even though i wasn't around when it happened i'm here today and to think that this still happens in the U.S or even in Europe it is a scary thought that i could very well be in a position like that one day I just don't like the thought of stuff like this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you james. I to remember coming home and watching the video and seeing how horrible it is and why someone would actually do this. I also think about how the world would be if the terrorist attack never happened. People lost their lives and innocent people died that day and even thought i wasn't around it still makes me feel a type of way.
DeleteThe first time i learned about 9/11. I was told how the planes flew into the World Trade Center. I did not know about the other planes and how we went to war because of it. No one explained how there was a plane that hit into the Pentagon or the plane that passengers took over and crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. My feelings when i first learned about the attack was very surprised, But now when i hear about 9/11 it makes me feel angry and a little upset. I feel angry because every person that day that died except the terrorist did not do anything to deserve to die. I feel upset because i had some family that got injured during 9/11.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of this article is who they explain the monument at ground zero and the number of people that died because of 9/11. I always liked that the president said “ The terrorist who attacked us thought they could incite fear and weaken spirit, but America can not be intimidated, and those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dare to test our mettle.”
The first time I remember learning about 9/11/01 is in 5th grade. My teacher taught the whole class about it. We learned about this tragic moment for about two hours that day. I remember she said “For as long as you guys live. You will never forget about this tragic day”. She was one hundred percent correct about that, I will never forget about that moment. Knowing that not only were people killed in the planes but they were also jumping to their deaths from the top of the buildings. There were four plans that were hijacked that day, three were successful the one was not. Two planes hit the twins towers, another one hit the pentagon, and the last one was aiming for the white house, but one crashed into a field in pennsylvania. Many people were devastated that day, they lost their family and friends on that day and every year people go to the memorial on 9/11 and two big lights shine into the sky.
ReplyDeleteThe information that I found the most interesting is “The ceremony at Ground Zero is marked by six moments of silence — to mark the times each plane hit the Twin Towers, to mark when each tower fell and to mark the attacks on the Pentagon and Flight 93.” I think that it's nice to give a moment of silence to those whom lost their lives on 9/11/01 because they did not deserve to die. They all had family who loved them and for them not being here anymore because it hurts them. Six moments of silence is good because if the things it represents.
The first time I had ever heard and even learned about 9/11 was when I was in 5th grade in miss robinson's class on that fateful when i finally was told i didn’t know what to think about because I had never heard of it but over time it sink in and then I got the real fear factor of how everybody else was feeling on the day of the terroristic attack.That afternoon when I came home my parents sat me down and told me to watch the tv.There was a documentary and I said too my parents that I was talking about this in my history class,but as the documentary went on I started to get very sad and I looked away and when I turned my head BOOM I saw the second plane crash into the South tower and it was so surreal I couldn’t believe that this actually happened and then I felt a tear rolling down my cheek and I just sat their and watched in horror like it was something out of a movie.After it was over I jumped into my mom’s arms because this scared me now looking back at what happened my mom use to work in an casino as a secretary and those have a lot of people and a lot of money there too so if they wanted too they could have there they could have hit anywhere in the United States.That day was a true horror but it also united the United States there was boats that were getting people out of Manhattan and bringing them to New Jersey and for me to think how close those planes were too New Jersey is very frightening to me I hope we can prevent any other acts like this in the US.One thing that really stood out to me was when Donald J.Trump said about Sgt.Hoopii running into the Pentagon.The reason it stood out too me was because very few people are that selfless.
ReplyDeleteI agree about what people were thinking and how scary it was. Also it did unite a lot of people with every boat that came to help. It was really close to us and that is really scary as well. In the end we still are a strong nation. We all were affected by this tragedy but that didn't stop everyone from helping out the best they could.
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ReplyDeleteI first remember learning about 9/11 when I was in 4th grade. What I learned from that lesson is that my teacher told us that it was the anniversary of the attack. She was really upset that day because she said her father had died as a result of it. We were kids so she didn’t go into detail about it but she told us the gist of what it was. It was a long time ago so i’m not sure exactly what she said but she explained how this group of bad people called terrorists took control of multiple planes and crashed them into two important buildings in New York City called the World Trade Center. She told us that thousands of people worked there and thousands died because of the tragedy. The information in this article that I find most interesting is the interviews with the families. It’s most interesting to me because it makes you understand the actual pain they feel every year on this horrible day. It’s also amazing to me that so many people make there way to the monument every year and have such a genuine bond over this tragedy. As horrible this event is history is and always will be it’s an example of how strong our country truly is and always will be.
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1DKpJtwzQuXW1EWyNdm0G5FUfdZDN8sjg6gyqjVkDTjc
DeleteMy first time hearing about September 11, 2001 was when i was in 3rd grade. My teacher Mrs.Hebrew was talking to us about what happened on this very day> She was explaining to us what those people did. How they snuck onto 4 planes and crashes all of them in different areas hurting and killing innocent people. Two planes hit the twin towers in New York , the third plane hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C and the fourth one hit in a field by Shanksville PA. The teachers showed us what happened on the big screen. There was a video of what exactly happened. It was showing us people jumping out of the building and that was a long way down. It broke my heart teacher's heart to watch it because a lot of people she knew was in that tower and sadly didn't make it. I can't imagine how many people lost somebody and it breaks my heart to even think of it. I used to never be scared of airplanes until that day. Also a lot of people didn't just die from tower they died from breathing in too much smoke.From them breathing in too much smoke caused them to get lung cancer and some didn't make it.I always thought to myself i wonder how life would be right now if the planes didn't crash into the twin towers and if the planes didn't get a chance to get hijacked. I just wonder if the tower would still even be here right now in 2017? What do you think? The information in this article that i found most interesting was how the families were saying how they felt that day and how they lived their lives thru that day. In the text it says,"i never liked driving in the city. But maybe there was a little emotional stress as well, Taormina said about why he never came before. It's a little easier for me now." The feelings i feel for the article is upsetting because it's hard to hear about something like this happen. The thing is too this happened a couple years ago and here we are now having things like this still go on in other countries. The thing that stuck out to me was as i was reading how the families felt and how they say how there dad, brother, son , mom ,etc died that very day upsets me.
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DeleteI agree with you. Its very sad that thousands of innocent people died because of this. I wonder what it would be like if the planes never crashed too. Would there be as much security at airports and ect. ? Would people be scared of planes aas much?
DeleteI agreed with Zach when he talked about Stg. Isaac Hoppii. As we both said only a few people would have went into the building to save people. He went through the burning building with dangerous smoke and he could barely see or breathe. Also I agreed with Zach when he said Isaac put his life on the Line to save others. He cared about others people's lives more then his and most people don't. He is brave for this and really has my respect.
DeleteThe first time i remember learning about 9/11 was when a family friend who was a firefighter during 9/11 told me from his point of view how it was and what happened. The first time learning about it in school was in fourth grade. I thought that it was a terrible thing and I didn't understand how people could do that to other people and i wanted to know what made the territories do something that cost many lives and cost many people there loved ones. I was really upset the first time I learned about 9/11 I thought it was such a terrible thing and I felt so bad for all the people who died and lost there loved ones. I was really interested in learning more about it so I asked a lot of people questions and it made me realize what some people are actually capable of doing. 911 was such A tragic time for many people who might have been a firefighter or maybe just someone who want to help I will always remember when I first learned about 9/11 and what happened it's something you don't forget.
ReplyDeleteI first learned about September 11, 2001 when i was in the 5th grade with my teacher. She showed us a video about it and how scary it was. People were running out of the smoke of the from the first building falling. I remember from the video that they looked all white. So many people died that day from 2 planes crashing into the twin towers, almost 3,000. I thought that it was pretty crazy what happened to a state that affected the entire country. I was also wondering how people’s lives were gonna be after that tragedy.
ReplyDeleteWhat i found most interesting about this article is that even after all that happened to america we still stand strong. For example there was about 3,000 deaths and it affected everyone, but that wasn’t enough to bring america down. My feelings to the article were very sad that so many family members died and some that have not even met yet. I also am amazed that the article said it couldn’t bring america down. Finally what sticks out to me is that so many people tried to help to the best of their abilities even if they weren’t the police or the firemen and were just citizens.
i agree with you john about what you said about the article yes it was sad but america know how to be strong and fight thru it all.
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