September 11, 2001

Details – General 19 militants associated with al-Qaeda Hijacked four airliners Two of the planes were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City A third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania More than 3,000 people were killed including more than 400 police officers and firefighters

Details – The Hijackers Islamic terrorists from Saudi Arabia and several other Arab nations Supported by Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda Acting in retaliation for America’s support of Israel, its involvement in the Persian Gulf War and its continued military presence in the Middle East Some of the terrorists had lived in the US for more than a year Some had taken flying lessons at American commercial flight schools Others had slipped into the country in the months before and acted as the “muscle” in the operation. The flights were bound for California, chosen because the planes were loaded with fuel for the long transcontinental journey. Soon after takeoff, the terrorists took over the four planes

The Hijackers From Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other Arab nations

Details – NY – North Tower American Airlines Flight 11 Boeing 767, 92 people on board (5 hijackers) From Boston en route to Los Angeles 7:59am – take off 8:14 – flight attendants alert ground personnel that plane has been hijacked; AA alerts the FBI 8:46 – plane crashes into floors of the North Tower of the WTC Everyone on board is killed along with hundreds in the building 10:28 – North Tower collapses

North Tower

Details – NY – South Tower American Airlines Flight 175 Boeing 767, 65 people on board (5 hijackers) From Boston en route to Los Angeles 8:14 – take off 9:03 – crashes into floors of the South Tower of the WTC Everyone on board is killed along with hundreds in the building 9:59 – South Tower collapses

South Tower

Details – Pentagon American Airlines Flight 77 Boeing 757, 64 people on board (5 hijackers) From Dulles (Washington DC) to Los Angeles 8:20 – take off 9:24 – FAA notifies NEADS (NorthEast Air Defense Sector) that they suspect the plane has been hijacked Some crew and passengers were able to alert family on the ground 9:37 – crashed into the western side of the Pentagon Kills all on board and 125 people in the building

Pentagon

Details – Pennsylvania United Airlines Flight 93 Boeing 757, 44 people on board (4 hijackers) Newark (New Jersey) en route to San Francisco 8:41 – take off Scheduled to depart around 8:00 Passengers and crew learn from family on the ground about the attacks in New York and Washington Passengers and crew mount an attempt to retake the plane 10:03 – hijackers deliberately crash the plane into a field in Somerset, Pennsylvania All on board are killed

Pennsylvania Special agents rushing to the crash scene of United Flight 93 expected to find a commercial jetliner in pieces. Instead they saw a smoldering hole in a field, a large pile of dirt, burning trees, and what looked like trash everywhere.

Details – Timeline 9:02 – Port Authority orders evacuation of both towers 10-14,000 were already in the process of evacuating 9:08 – FAA bans all flights going to or through New York 9:21 – all bridges and tunnels in NY are closed 9:31 – Bush, in Florida, calls the events an “apparent terrorist attack on our country” 9:42 – all flights over or bound for the US are grounded 9:45 – White House and US Capitol are evacuated 11am – Mayor Giuliani calls for evacuation of Lower Manhattan (more than 1 million people)

Details – Timeline 2:51 – US Navy sends missile destroyers to NY and DC 5:20 – Seven WTC collapses 47 story building Command center for Ground Zero 8:30pm – President Bush addresses the nation addresses the nation

Video – Overview

Activity Choose events from the ones we’ve covered Events that you think are critical to understanding what happened that day List those events on page 3 of your handout, be sure to include the time of the event Timeline Once you have listed out your events, go ahead and complete page 4 You can, and should, summarize some of the events

The Stories Lee and Eunice Hanson’s family – on Flight 175 Alfred Braca – bond broker Jack Murray – steel burner – rescuer Gennie Gambale – worked in the North Tower Michael D’Auria – NYFD

How has 9/11 Changed America? Article “Young People Reflect on How 9/11 Shaped Generation” LkrzSvVp5qy0fGuOMMlvu&v=QU5wv1dr8tE LkrzSvVp5qy0fGuOMMlvu&v=QU5wv1dr8tE

Memorial – New York

Design competition – 5,200 entries from 63 nations Twin reflecting pools Nearly an acre each Largest manmade waterfalls in North America Pools sit within the footprints of where the Twin Towers once stood Includes names of every person who died on 9/11 and on the 1993 attacks

Memorial – Pentagon

Adjacent to the crash site 1.93-acre park contains a bench for each of the victims Arranged according to their year of birth and ranging from 1930 to 1998 Under each bench there is a lighted pool of flowing water Stainless steel bench with inlaid granite Varied in placement to designate if victim was on the plane or in the building

Memorial – Pennsylvania

Located about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh Glass and concrete memorial – visitor center and museum Opened in September 2015 Wall of Names A boulder marks the spot of the actual crash Tower of Voices will be built in the next couple of years 100 foot bell tower with 40 chimes