The coordinated terrorist attacks against the world’s greatest nation’s very foundations brought the entire global community to its knees on September 11, 2011. Al – Qaeda, an Islamic extremist terrorist group, targeted the world trade center, the pentagon, and the white house. Two of the planes – out of the four hijacked by the terrorist group – American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. It took a mere 42 minutes for the 110-story tower to collapse; the surrounding structures soon followed it.
The third hijacked plane – American Airlines Flight 77 – crashed into the Pentagon Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth hijacked plane was diverted from its intentional target – the white house – by the sheer heroic efforts of United States’ citizens.
The attacks injured 25,000 people, killing another 2977. To this day, thousands remain missing – with their loved ones still searching for a formal affirmation. Such is the tragic history of 9/11.
The immediate response of the American Nation
We Americans are one brave nation. Following the law-enforcement forces’ footsteps and the military, the everyday Americans showed the utmost courage to help the situation.
“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
These were the exact words of the then president of America, which showed the nation’s resolve against these vile attacks.
Operation Enduring Freedom followed these attacks and this American-led international effort to oust the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and destroy Osama bin Laden’s terrorist network based there, began on October 7. Within just two months, the TALIBAN were removed from their operational tower. Bin-laden was killed in the years following the attack.
A tragedy, never to be forgotten.
For the world outside of our borders, the casualties and millions worth of damage and emotional turmoil might just be numbers and case studies. For the Americas, this was an attack on our most important asset – our people. The people who died were our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. They were – they are – Americans. Try as we might, we will never be able to forget the cries of people as beautiful, innocent souls left the world in the name of extremism.
9/11 rattled the United States to its core. We have rebuilt the structure, cleaned off the debris, made memorials. But what we can’t do is forget. We won’t forget, we cannot forget the lives laid down, the sacrifices made, the generations destroyed. We will not let these sacrifices go in vain. We won’t let the world forget the atrocities committed against the American nation. We can’t.
Our tribute
At Paradiso Insurance, our most important asset isn’t the monetary benefit. It is the people of the United States. It’s been almost two decades since the attacks, and yet, the wounds remain unheralded. At Paradiso Insurance, we realize that America may be facing many problems right now. Still, we are a nation of true patriots. Patriotism runs in our very veins.
To pay our respects to our fallen brave men and women, we celebrate Flag Day. Our years’ old tradition symbolizes the strength of the American nation. By replacing an old flag with a new one, we reaffirm that we remember those directly affected by the tragedy and that nothing – no power – can undo the American spirit.