Chapter+1

==== September 11, 2001. Anyone over the age of five will probably remember what they were doing. Some compare it to the attack on **Pearl Harbor** or the assassination of **John F. Kennedy, Jr.** It is a day that we will never forget. School age children and adults were addicted to the TV, radio and Internet. Schools and offices were receiving constant updates of what was going on. At 8:46am news came that American Airlines Flight 11 had crashed into the north tower of the **World Trade Center** in **New York City**. Eighteen minutes later at 9:03am United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Just when you though the horror was over, news came that the Pentagon had been attacked. At 9:37 American Flight 77 crashed into the **Pentagon** and United flight 93 perished in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania at 10:03 am. Minutes before the final plane crash, the south tower collapsed due to structural failure at 9:59am. At 10:28am the north tower collapsed also. As a total, 2,974 innocent men, women and children were killed on this day. Nineteen **hijackers** committed this act of violence killing citizens from over ninety countries. On this day Americans lost mothers, fathers, students, grandmothers, grandfathers, chefs, waitresses, flight attendants, brothers, sisters pilots, lawyers, investment bankers, finance advisors, firemen, police, and the list could go on. 411 emergency workers were killed at the site of the Twin Towers coming from The New York City Fire Department, The New York City Police Department, The Port Authority Police Department, and other private rescue companies. Cantor Fitzgerald, an investment bank, lost almost two-thirds of its employees that day, more than any other company in the Twin Towers. Rescue and recovery efforts continued after the attacks. Missing person's signs covered walls of the streets and hospitals of New York City. Families desperately waited to hear from loved ones hoping for a reunion. Many never heard from those they were looking for. Lower Manhattan was difficult to access after the attacks. Dangerous chemicals in the air made it so many had to leave their homes and move somewhere else. Many stores and business had to close, which resulted in a lot of people losing their jobs. The economy also suffered from this event. The stock market did very poorly after 9/11. The airline industry was also affected as many people were afraid to fly after the attacks. Immediately after the attacks the FBI was able to identify the nineteen people who hijacked the planes and ended so many lives. The hijackers were very smart men who had a very good plan. They came from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Lebanon. The hijackers are part of **Al-Qaeda,** a **terrorist** organization led by **Osama Bin Laden**. After the attacks Americans immediately felt a sense of **Patriotism**. Rescue workers came from all over the country to assist in the recovery efforts. American flags were seen flying from many more homes, cars, and businesses than before this tragedy. Blood donations and **charitable**contributions increased a lot. There were also negative impacts on America’s people. Hate crimes resulted from the attacks toward **Middle Eastern** people, specifically **Muslims**. Many were mistakenly targeted such as **Sikhs**, because they wear turbans which are **stereotypically** linked to Muslims. **Islamic** and Muslim organizations across America responded to these threats in positive ways to demonstrate their want to assist with this tragedy. On September 20, 2001 **President George W. Bush** declared “The War on Terror”. He made a speech explaining what happened on 9/11 to the American people. He stated Americans should not hold all Muslims responsible and Terrorists are an extreme and small percent of the population. He advised Americans to continue their lives as normal and pray for the victims of 9/11. This declaration led to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq by United State troops. Many men and women of America enlisted in the military as a sign of patriotism. It was a way for them to make a contribution and protect the freedom of America. The War on Terror continues to be fought as the military seeks Al-Qaeda members from the **Taliban**. ====
 * Chapter 1**

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