Ten-Year Remembrance of 9/11

National September 11 Memorial

Construction at the National 9/11 Memorial Plaza in New York City

Ten years have passed since September 11, 2001, the day Islamic terrorists carried out the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history. Militants connected to Osama bin Laden’s extremist group al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., killing over 3,000 people. Some 10,000 New Yorkers were injured, many severely. Among the dead were hundreds of firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel who perished while rescuing thousands of people from the WTC. One airliner crashed in rural Pennsylvania after a handful of brave passengers overpowered the hijackers, preventing them from reaching their intended target (possibly the White House or U.S. Capitol).

The traumatic events of 9/11 impelled the United States into a global war against terrorism. This tenth anniversary will memorialize those who died in the terrorist attacks that day as well as those in the military, law enforcement, intelligence or homeland security who have devoted their lives to the nation’s security. The commemorations will focus attention on the events that have defined the course of U.S. history in the 21st century.

The Obama administration sent guidelines to government officials both at home and abroad to suggest how best to honor the memory of those who died in the terrorist attacks on American soil while also recalling that extremist groups such as al Qaeda have, since 2001, carried out deadly attacks elsewhere in the world. President Obama will give a speech on Sunday, September 11, from New York, where he will be attending memorial events. At Ground Zero, as the WTC site became known after 9/11, a 104-story skyscraper called 1 World Trade Center is under construction. Originally called “Freedom Tower,” it will be 1,776 feet tall. Within the “footprint” of the former Twin Towers is the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. The memorial is being unveiled at this year’s commemoration.

Image credit: © Mario Tama/Getty Images

Related Links

  • 9/11 Attacks
    Explore the rich video, narrative, photographic, and interactive resources of History.com concerning “the day that changed America.” Watch unfiltered “eyewitness” videos from nine New Yorkers and explore the “World Trade Center Reborn: Infographic,” video clips including “9/11 Timeline,” “Birth of Al Qaeda,” “How the Towers Collapsed,” and “Rebuilding Ground Zero”; photo galleries; and more.
    (Source: History.com; accessed August 31, 2011)
  • White House Issues Guides on Sept. 11 Observances
    Learn how the Obama administration is seeking to shape and coordinate the themes underscored and tone set in official commemorations of 9/11.
    (Source: New York Times, August 29, 2011)
  • Kids of 9/11 Get a Voice on TV as 10th Anniversary Looms
    Check out this fresh perspective from surviving children who lost parents in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
    (Source: Reuters, August 30, 2011)
  • Osama Bin Laden Evidence: Al Qaeda Considered 9/11 Anniversary Attack
    Discover the evidence of dark plots that was recovered by U.S. Special Forces from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani hideout.
    (Source: ABC News, May 5, 2011)

171 Comments

  1. Richard ([)1cK) says:

    I liked the article and thought that it was very well thought and should be told to everyone

  2. Analise Gumby says:

    So Sad

  3. vicena says:

    this is a very sad story about what happen during the 9 11 but im happy now becuse it is over with now…….
    I hope so???????????????

  4. joseph says:

    i wanna delete that, i ment to say how sad…….

  5. Rachael says:

    i was only a year old when it happend, so i don’t remember anything but when i read and here about 9/11 i can’t help but feel bad. my parents keep saying that they can’t beleive it has been 10 years since 9/11 happend. i’m sorry for all the people who lost love ones.

  6. Anonymous says:

    i fell vary said fore the people who had lost family members

  7. kindall says:

    I feel so sorry for those childern and there familys that where hijacked by those horrible people I hope that it does not happen to us!!

  8. Nina says:

    this article was a very well written article and i was moved. i was 2 or 3 when this happened and i remember my mom stop and start praying. i watched as the second plane flew into the second tour. being a 2 year old you dont know what was happening. but today now that im 13 i can truly understand that what happened that day was heart breaking. i pray for evryone who lost a loved one and everyone who risked their lives to save some one elses.

  9. Nina says:

    Super sad and I will never forget that I saw the second plane crash into the second tower…… 🙁

  10. morgan says:

    i have herd that it was a sad day but on 9/11/2001 i was only 2 years old! may all the victumes of 9/11 be remembered to this day. 🙁

  11. lissa..! says:

    ); so sad glad i was not in it or my family!!!!!

  12. kylie says:

    i was only a year old when it happened so i didn’t what going on. my bro was 7 when it happened and even though he was 7 he cried and he was scared. i’m 10 now and when i saw all those show and watched people jump out off the twin tower i just had to walk out the room cause it was soooooo sad and scary. i pray to all the families that lost anyone in 9\11

  13. kylie says:

    the highjakers will pay what they did curse on them. i HATE those stupid jerks

  14. AwesomeGurl800 says:

    I FEEL bad and I hope this neva eva happens again

  15. unknown says:

    this was a horrbile event:( i will pray

  16. thomas says:

    it was a really bad event

  17. Anonymous says:

    it is sad

  18. carson says:

    sad

  19. carson says:

    it is really sad

  20. London Lang says:

    i love this article

  21. LondonLang says:

    i loved this article it was awsome and should be told to eveyone

  22. kalyee says:

    i know right my mom was there when the planes crashed but she is still living 🙁 🙂

  23. Karen says:

    I feel awful for all of those who lost their loved ones. I’m so mad at the hijackers.
    =E

  24. jared says:

    IT IS SAD AND EVEN SADDER!!!!!!

  25. gdpoigru says:

    omg i cant believe its been ten years already

  26. Jacob says:

    The saddest of all of it, is that similar occurrences happened throughout the Middle East and Africa pre and post 9/11 and still continue, and nobody cares or knows anything about it.

  27. Dana says:

    Sad 🙁 Innocent people died!

  28. Jacob says:

    OMG sooooo sad!! tear tear!

  29. Jacob says:

    sooo sad tear tear

  30. bailey says:

    sad

  31. mandy says:

    I was one when this happend it is really sad 🙁 why did they have to do that!! so many familys hurt so many familys with out your love one kids with out fathers or mothers or people they know it is so sad
    🙁 lets remember this day and dont forget what they did to us! so sad 🙁 love all the people that died and remember them
    love,
    mandy

  32. Anonymous says:

    thant was a sad day

  33. jasper says:

    ya that was a big disaster

  34. tristen says:

    Iwas only 2 when it happened but I wish I would stop remembering it.

  35. goldie says:

    awww so sad):

  36. Carter says:

    remember 9/11

  37. tyler collins says:

    i agree with n/c:9

  38. Tyler says:

    I still remember and i will always remember what happened on that day.

  39. Jake says:

    ogm it wuz liek 10 yeerz agow!!1111111

    Yeah. 10 years isn’t that long. Plus, it’s over. No need for bringing the subject back up year after year. It’s annoying.

    • nina says:

      ummm yeah there is!!!!!!!!!!!! thats important to know how many people died because of these terrorists!!!!!!!!!! and especially the people who risked for these people ( police, etc. ) so yea there is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • glossy says:

        I agree with nina. I mean I wansnt born when 9/11 happened so im glad I get to learn more about it every year. its to bad you think this is annoying I find it very interesting but sad.VERY VERY SAD

  40. Farah says:

    Did this guy even know how many loved ones he killed i am sure maybe millions of kids ,familys, workers. osama bin laden should have though before he acted and as an american i think that it is about time that navy seal 6 killed osama bin laden they where very brave to take him out with afghanistani officials or anybody seeing them in sight but the question is still a mystery how did he escape from new york city on 9/11 of the terriorist attack or was he in the city before the terriorist attack and figured out ways and then took our nations beautiful twin towers but this is very wrong of osama why do people do these kinds of things? how did osama hijack the airplane? why did he do what he had done? why did those people help him with the operation ?

  41. Farah says:

    see us citizens why did the people terriorize the pentagon why would they do that why?

  42. dude man says:

    im just glad that laden is dead.

  43. nnzskn says:

    Wow great artical. brought back memories

  44. Andrew says:

    I always wonder what America has done for people to want to destroy many innocent lives.

  45. kindall says:

    No I did not

  46. abigail says:

    omg i didnt mean to write ‘i was too whn that happen’ i ment to write I fell sorry for the people who lost there family members

  47. lauren says:

    this is so sad

  48. lauren says:

    how sad is that so…… SAD I pray for those people who died this was one of the worst days in american history this is apart of history you cant do anything about it but we can make it better. sincerly lauren

  49. abigail says:

    i really feel orry for the people who lost the family members and im so happy that it is over and i feel sorry who are gone exept the people who crashed the towers.THANK YOU for reading my comment!!! :[ for the people who lost there family members.

  50. abigail says:

    omg my bff saw the video of 9-11 and she is crying so sad

  51. Jake says:

    I was only 1 when this happend its sad that they would kill them selves just to take down buildings that represent AMERICA

  52. kaylee says:

    i only 2years old when this happend

  53. rstratton36 says:

    Tragic

  54. kels says:

    i was wondering what they would ever put in place of the twin towers. yes it is a very good thing he is dead!! what did we ever do to him? when the first tower was hit someone should have evacuated the second one just to be safe but no one did, why is that? that is really scary i mean who has the right mind to take years to study this and have the guts to actually do, killing people on planes and crashing our world trade center?!!!

  55. anonimous says:

    this story is very helpful information

  56. Lexine says:

    Thank you so much for this artlice, it saved me time!

  57. Shaun Coomer says:

    Interesting
    🙂

  58. Jordyn says:

    i am fortunate enough to not have lost any loved ones in this tragic event. i feel horrible for those who did. i do not remember any of this day through expirence, because i was only 2 years old at the time of the event. i do knnow about this day through text and photographs and even by word. i hope all of the people who were greatly affected by the event of 9/11 are doing good today and forever on out.

  59. zach says:

    this day was a really said day for this to happen

  60. jake snipes says:

    I feel so sorry for those people who lost there lives.those terrorests disgust me.

  61. jake snipes says:

    i feel so sorry for those people that lost there lives at the 9/11 disaster.those terrorists disgust me.

  62. Rainbow Ninga (Bridgett Shamblen) says:

    I was watching something on tv about it my mom was crying. :'(

  63. Anonymous says:

    it was a sad day

  64. ttt says:

    911 was a very sad day

  65. tRISTAN says:

    IT WAS SAD

  66. ryan says:

    i hate terroists

  67. lauren and mehgan says:

    i didn’t read it , but it was proboly sad. my sempafy means the world to me that we survied.

  68. faith says:

    this really touched my heart. i am so sorry for the families that lost loved ones and people close to them. i enjoyed this memerable passage alot :::;;;::::;;;;;DDDDDDddddddDDDDDDdddddd

  69. Sandra says:

    It was sad i dont realise why did they kild them and why

  70. bruce says:

    good article

  71. Daja says:

    it was horible thing that could ever happen

  72. Laura says:

    I don’t know anybody who survived or died in the 9/11 attacks, but 9/11 must have been a really tragic event. If I had known somebody who survived or died in 9/11, then I would have prayed for him or her every day to make sure that person is safe from those crazy terrorists. I know they are part of the Al-Queda terrorist group – I learned it last year in Social Studies.

  73. Laura says:

    I’m in 8th grade now and still in middle school. I was really young when those terrorists attacked the Twin Towers. Now I’m 14 (soon to be 15 in two months) and a teenage girl.

  74. Laura says:

    Now I am happy 9/11 is over and that it is 10 years later and that the USA finally has some peace and quiet from Al-Queda. 🙂

  75. Iz says:

    God bless those who died on 9/11. They all live on in our hearts.

  76. cohlbie says:

    i feel so bad for these people

  77. Anonymous says:

    sooo sad

  78. Anonymous says:

    i feel so bad for all the people that died and for all the people that tried to save their live i will always remember ya’ll….:(

  79. shanice says:

    i feel so bad for all the people that died i will always remember yall :(:)

  80. emanistephens says:

    so sad wat happend .but we had hanged in thier ,and we over came wat happend but we r still HERE!;) 🙂

  81. myracle dudley says:

    that was just sad what they had did millions of people died.for no reason and like yal’l still ain’t catch the peolpe that did it. and o felll bad for the people that lost thier loved ones love myracle dudley.

  82. Riann says:

    Mannn imm salty dat that happened peple lost here lives because some ppl wanted to be stupid and ignorant like come on now…….where da do dat at…good thing they dead and it ll over..at least i think its all over…..;/

  83. Anonymous says:

    im cryin

  84. Anonymous says:

    its so sad

  85. wesley says:

    sad

  86. labron says:

    this is really good

  87. michelle says:

    is so sad….. it make me cry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  88. Keynettea Banks says:

    I feel so sad about that.That was the greates twin tower ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  89. Michelle Mallpica Salgado says:

    Im sorry what happen…. i wish i was there to help the people in there!!!!!!!!

  90. mookie says:

    this is sooo sad 🙁

  91. jewel says:

    he prably isnt dead but he will be back…i wish they didnt have to die but he did !!

  92. casie says:

    how sad 🙁

  93. keynettea says:

    sorry

  94. Michelle Malpica Salgado says:

    Im sorry about the famouse twin towers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  95. poker face 9 says:

    rip

  96. labron says:

    it was not good when that happen so sad

  97. cupcakes66 says:

    i think it was a terrible remembrance of something and sombody so cruel that hed form a group 2 kill inocent people.

  98. cupcakes66 says:

    super sad 🙁

  99. labron says:

    rip

  100. prescilla says:

    i feel u

  101. emmashaw1999@yhaoo.com says:

    im sorry abut the kids in towers is sad

  102. Josh says:

    Im glad Osama is dead. That idiot shouldn’t have messed with America.

  103. Tgang. says:

    THIS IS FANTASTIC.

  104. Y says:

    Such a sad day

  105. Tgang. says:

    Yeah I know.

  106. hfhjksdfgh says:

    i thought he would never die

  107. ghgghhh says:

    sad

  108. sam says:

    don’t any of you like osama bin laden

  109. i like cheese says:

    i feel very sad about those people that lost family members and those that died, you will never be forgotten :,(

  110. i like cheese says:

    i feel very sad about those that lost family members and those that died, you will never be forgotten….. we miss you

  111. Elizabeth says:

    i was one and this is very sad 🙁

  112. i like cheese says:

    i will never forget that day

  113. BRITNEY says:

    POOR PEOPLR 🙁

  114. chesse head says:

    very sad

  115. grant says:

    this is a very sad moment for america(in history).I am glad that we r biulding new buildings

  116. jessica says:

    omg

  117. carebears says:

    that was one of the sadest dayyes ever i will pray 4 those people

  118. carebears says:

    that was one of the sadest dayyes ever i will pray 4 those people

  119. PopRo says:

    Some of the kids in the Middle East were taught that the destrution of the towers was Allah’s will. If they had been educated correctly, they would not have celebrated the death of so many people.

  120. bustosm p5 says:

    <3

  121. UOTORIOUS F P5 says:

    Imm Sorryy Forr Thee Peoplee Thatt Lostt Theree lIVESS Inn Thee Atactt Ripp Alsoo Ihh Dontt Likee Howw ATheyy DID Thatt Andd Itss Wrongg Howw Theyy Knokedd Thee Bestt Towerss Inn Thee Woldd Downn

  122. Keekee says:

    Awesome information about the attack for people that didn’t know anything about it!!

  123. Xela says:

    This is the saddest thing evah and i have to write an essay on it!!!!

  124. seth says:

    hate that the article wont print. also hate what happened that day very sad. i need this for a paper

  125. joe says:

    i agree with you man that day sucked

  126. anonymous says:

    that was the saddest day ever also my friends birth day

  127. humberto says:

    Yea it is sad guys my dad died in the twin towers and I’m so sad

  128. Anonymous says:

    very sad….. 0_o

  129. Sylvie says:

    It is so terrible. Why would someone kill hundreds of innocent people?

  130. Sara says:

    My dad died in 9/11

  131. Joey says:

    I was 4 when this happened

  132. suad says:

    So sad.I was 7 months old when this happened.

  133. megan says:

    very sad we lost so many

  134. megan says:

    i would all so like to i was almost 1 when this happened birthday is tomorrow.

  135. Kari says:

    Watching the movie made me cry, exspecially when the first tower fell, sooooo sad ;-;

  136. Shay says:

    Sad day indeed…sad day indeed…

  137. Braelyn says:

    Very sad 🙁