Existing comment:
The sign says:
September 11, 2001
Beyond this wall, the Twin Towers once soared to the heavens. Since 1973, they were international centers of commerce. To stand in their shadows, or to witness their imprint on the skyline, was to marvel at the ingenuity and determination of the American spirit.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed two hijacked planes into the Towers, murdering 2,792 people. At 8:46 am, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower, which collapsed at 10:29am. At 9:03am, United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower, which collapsed at 9:59am. Terrorists would also crash hijacked planes into the Pentagon and a remote field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, murdering 224 people.
The recovery effort began immediately after the attacks. The tremendous outpouring of support from around the nation and the world bolstered the City's spirits in its darkest hour. New Yorkers responded by vowing to rebuild their city -- not as it was, but even better than it was before.
In total, seven buildings were destroyed, many other structures were damaged and more than 1.8 million tons of debris were removed. The human toll, however, can never be measured.
The twenty-acre void left on this earth echoes the one in our hearts. The people killed here were not soldiers at war. They were innocent civilians who went to work and never returned. They were hundreds of rescuers who died so thousands might live. For eight months, volunteers and workers labored day and night to bring home those we lost.
We will never forget the innocent men, women and children killed on September 11, 2001 or succumb to the hatred that took their lives. To honor their memory and the freedom they cherished, a memorial will rise one day on this site. |