September 11, 2001 is a day most of us remember exactly what we were doing and where we were when we heard about the horrific terrorist attacks on the United States. It may have happened 19 years ago, but it is a day that sticks with us in a significant way. This is a day that reshaped our nation.
On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, I was getting ready for my world history class. I happened to turn on the TV that morning and saw the news coverage. I was shocked by what I saw and could not believe it, but I do not think I quite comprehended the impact of this event. I headed to class and took a seat in the large lecture hall. I could hear other students talking about the news of the attacks. The professor entered the lecture hall and the first thing she did was to address the news of the attacks. She told students they were free to leave class if they had family, friends, or loved ones that were in New York that they needed to reach out to. Eventually, she ended the class early. When I got back to my sorority house, my friends and I watched the additional details of the attacks. We were in shock and could not believe what we saw.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 are the most fatal attacks on American soil since Pearl Harbor. They instilled a fear of terrorism in Americans that was not there before. The U.S. government launched a war on terrorism and heightened security regulations. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act was passed, and air travel was transformed. Many new security measures and increased surveillance were put in place. The war on terror has altered American life.
This September 11, 2020 marks the 19th anniversary of the attacks. Each anniversary is a time for us to take a moment and reflect on the 2,996 wonderful men and women that lost their lives during these fatal attacks. It reminds us how valuable life is and that there are many heroes among us. For those that lost a loved one in the attacks, it is especially important to pay tribute to that great person who is no longer with us. The memorials, the tributes, the moments of silence, are all ways we honor the lives that were lost.
We remember. America remembers. We will never forget.