It is difficult to believe that 25 years have passed since September 11th. It often feels like it was a year ago, while simultaneously feeling like several lifetimes ago. Especially when I think about how much my life has changed in the last 25 years. It’s still hard to believe that there are full-grown adults who hadn’t been born yet when the 9/11 attack took place.
A total of 2,996 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks, including the 19 terrorist hijackers aboard the four airplanes. Citizens of 90 countries died in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
At the World Trade Center, 2,763 died after the two planes crashed into the twin towers. That figure includes 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York City police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers who were struggling to complete an evacuation of the buildings and save the office workers trapped on higher floors.
At the Pentagon, 189 people were killed, including 64 on American Airlines Flight 77, the airliner that struck the building. On Flight 93, 44 people died when the plane crash-landed in Pennsylvania.
Over 5,000 US troops have been killed in action since 9/11. Please make sure that you remember to think of them and thank them for their sacrifice. Especially the 18 service members that have been killed in the recent conflict in Iran. We all know that freedom is never free, and I am thankful for all of the men and women who are willing to go out and defend that freedom every day.
Also remember our First Responders. Those who were killed on 9/11 and those currently active. Our firefighters, EMS, law enforcement — who all get up every day and go to work knowing they may not make it home.
As we see more and more years pass, please make sure you are talking to your children about what happened that day too. It’s important that this event doesn’t just become another tick in their history lessons. If you aren’t sure how to broach the subject, 911memorial.org actually has a section about talking to kids. But I do want to share one section on emphasizing hope:
“Terrorism exposes us to the worst in people. But we often hear stories of wonderful, compassionate, and heroic deeds that occur during or after such an attack. Shock and sadness can bring people — families, friends, and strangers alike — together in a unique way. Help your children recognize how their own compassion can prevent future acts of intolerance and violence by reminding them to express their ideas respectfully and to treat people who are different from themselves with kindness. Help children identify ways they can help others, whether those directly impacted by the event or others in need in their own community.”
Please be mindful of the 9/11 Memorial Ride on Friday, as it is expected to cause traffic congestion and road closures. The ride will be passing through several key areas of the town to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks. I understand this may be inconvenient, and I know the Coalition appreciates your patience and understanding. Please refer to the map on page 7 to familiarize yourself with the ride’s route and any areas to avoid if you need to travel during the ride.
Major areas to avoid include Southern Ave. in South Williamsport and all of West and East Third St. Remember, if you need to cross Third St. during the ride, be prepared for it to take some time, so complete your errands early or find an alternative route — especially if you are headed out to catch a Friday night football game. The ride starts at 6 p.m., so there is a good chance that you are going to cross paths with the ride.
Fall is a busy time around Webb Weekly. Our Fall Home Improvement issue is coming up on the 23rd. I know I said the 16th previously, but I got my date wrong. The good news is that now you have extra time to get an ad in! The salesperson inside me wants to remind you that our Fall Home Improvement edition is one of our most popular of the year, so whether you have anything to do with home improvement or not, I always recommend running an ad that week!
