Making History

Making History

America Reflects on the Day we Became

a Part of History

A beautiful fall day marks the eleventh anniversary of the day the World Trade Center was attacked. The morning of September eleventh, two thousand twelve reflects the day of the attack in an eerie way. Citizens could not have foreseen the events of this tragic day eleven years ago.    

            This morning in his weekly address, President Obama made a statement reflecting how far the nation has come as well as reviewing his foreign policy and its success. Quoted on ABC News, President Obama stated “Instead of changing who we are, the attacks have brought out the best in the American people.” Obama went on to say that the United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam or any other religion. “Our freedom and diversity is what makes us unique as a nation,” he said. Eleven years later, it is a good place to be able to say that no enemy and no act of terrorism can change who we are as a nation.

            Lisa Levine, who works in Avila’s campus security department, is one of many individuals reflecting on the events of September eleventh two thousand one today. “I remember working away, I had no idea anything had happened until a coworker told me what she heard on the radio,” Levine said.

            After the fact, it was released that days before the attack, former President George Bush was briefed on an issue about Al Qaeda’s determination to attack the United States while the same day in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden was finalizing his plans to attack on September Eleventh.

            “In my mind, or really what I got out of the news I have heard, there were hints dropped that should have been addressed. In my line of work, if you receive a tip you have to follow up on it no matter if you think it’s real or not,” said Levine.

            People living in different parts of the United States, of all ages and from many different perspectives remember where they were when they heard that their country was under attack.

 A recent college graduate, Samantha Mills, was in middle school in two thousand one. “I was only twelve when the attack happened. I remember being at school and the principal made an announcement to turn on the TV, we actually watched the second plane hit. I knew what I just saw was bad but at that age I just thought it didn’t affect me because it was happening so far away from where I lived,” Mills said.

For some, the attack on the World Trade Center is just another page in the history books, but for others it is a life-changing loss. New York City and its firefighters, for example, relive the trauma each year. In attempt to move forward, an agreement was reached today for the 9/11 museum. According to ABC news, the agreement established that no additional public funds will be spent on the completion of the memorial and museum, and puts it back on track for completion.

“I think it is really important that the memorial is finished. It is needed so that all the people who were killed are never forgotten,” Jamila Staples, a first year Avila student, said.      

            Today America reflects on the thousands of individuals who lost their lives on September eleventh two thousand and one. The families whose lives were changed forever, as well as all of America, remember. “It still affects people today, especially the families who lost loved ones, but everyone who lived through it,” said Levine, “when you are a part of history, when you live through a tragedy, you remember.”