September 11, 2001 was a mild morning for commuters heading to work and without warning our lives would forever be changed. The tragedy struck in New York City and as Americans we felt it across the country. We watched television and listened to radio reports and could not figure out what was happening to our land of the free.
Today our nation will commemorate the 9-11 attacks at the tree sites where hijacked planes crashed eleven years ago, killing close to 3,000 people. At the World Trade Center, family members of victims will read the names of loved ones. Observances will also be held at the Pentagon and at the crash site of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will join Virginians in a statewide Moment of Silence starting at 9:37 a.m. -the moment when American Airlines Flight 77 impacted the Pentagon in Arlington County. Following, the ceremony, Governor McDonnell will visit with first responders and firefighters at Henrico Fire Station 2, 2400 Darbytown Road.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced on 9/11/12 that an agreement has been reached on the construction of a 9-11 museum. The museum will display artifacts from the day of the attacks, including firefighters’ helmets, pieces of rubble and models of the World Trade Center from 11 years ago.
History:
On this date September 11, 1941, there was a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Nation’s Department of Defense known as the Pentagon. And 60 years later to the date, The Pentagon was crashed into on the west side by hijackers on American Airlines Flight 77.
9/11 Day of Remembrance, Patriotism and Prayer
WHEREAS, the events of September 11, 2001 profoundly affected – and continue to affect – all aspects of our society, and the lives of Virginians, Americans and people across the world were changed forever following the destruction of the World Trade Center complex in New York City, the attack against the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and the crash of Flight 93 in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, twelve years later the citizens of our Commonwealth and these United States continue to mourn for the more than three thousand innocent voices that were tragically silenced-including 184 in Virginia at the Pentagon-by terrorists on that infamous day of death and destruction; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that we never forget our shock and revulsion at the needless destruction, the bravery of our first responders who risked all for their neighbors, our anguish from the sudden loss of so many precious lives, or how we as a people did not succumb to a state of fear as the terrorists intended, but instead set aside our differences and united as patriots in our country’s hour of need; and
WHEREAS, while we reflect upon the memory of the departed, it is important that we also pause to remember and honor the sacrifices of all those members of our armed forces who have given their lives in heroic service to our country and all members of our military who have volunteered to bring those responsible for the 9/11 attacks and their supporters to justice during the Global War on Terror; and
WHEREAS, prayer has long served as a measure of our nation’s strong heritage of faith and has been an indispensable source of moral and spiritual guidance for citizens throughout our Commonwealth’s history, and it is fitting that our Commonwealth reserve a day in which our citizens may reflect and mourn – consistent with their own faith traditions – with those who have suffered as a result of terrorism, to humbly ask God for the strength and fortitude necessary to protect our lives, liberty and property from future transgressions, and to give thanks for the freedoms with which we as a people are fortunate enough to be blessed;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby recognize September 11, 2013 as a DAY OF REMEMBRANCE, PATRIOTISM AND PRAYER in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens; and
FURTHERMORE, I urge all citizens of our Commonwealth to display the flag of the United States of America wherever possible, and I invite all to witness a one-minute, statewide Moment of Silence starting at 9:37 AM – when American Airlines Flight 77 impacted with the Pentagon in our County of Arlington – and I encourage all Virginians to reflect upon the lives lost and heroic sacrifices made on that fateful eleventh day of September.
The USA and Nations Remembers 9/11 was originally published on kissrichmond.com
