I remember 9/11 very vividly, as if it had just happened yesterday. I was in the first grade, at Perrysville Elementary, located at 950 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15237. I was roughly 6 years old at the time. I remember the announcements over the loudspeakers, explaining what had occurred. I also remember the frantic rush of parents leaving their place of work to collect their children and run home to be with their families. I was, unfortunately, one of the last kids to be picked up from my school.

At 8:46 in the morning, hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At first, it was suspected that it was a complete accident. It wasn't until roughly 15 minutes later, at 9:03 AM, when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Later, at 9:37 AM, American Airlines Flight 77 collided with the Pentagon in Washington D.C. 59 passengers on the flight, and 125 people occupying the pentagon perished. The last plane, and perhaps the most recognizable, United Airlines Flight 93, was taken out of the sky. A group of brave souls on the flight took action into their own hands, and overpowered the hijackers. The plane crashed into a field in the rural area of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

After the events of that day concluded, nearly 3,000 innocent people lost their lives based on actions carried out by al-Qaeda rebels. Of those people:

• 246 were bystanders on the 4 flights
• 2,606 were in the vicinity of the WTC, and in the WTC itself
• 125 were Pentagon workers
• 72 were law enforcement officers
• 343 were firefighters
• 55 were military personnel
  

September 11th, 2001, is the worst terrorist attack in world history, as well as the deadliest foreign act of destruction to life and property on American soil since the bombing of Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941.

Those people paid the ultimate price for their freedom, as well as our freedom. To this day, we continue to recognize the events that occurred on that faithful day, and remember the lives lost, for they were not lost in vein. Each year, many make the pilgrimage to the memorial site established to pay their respects for those lost. Some of these people were directly affected, in which they lost dear friends, family and coworkers. Others go to pay their respects to thank those who perished for defending our freedom.

While the events of 9/11 were an isolated case, each and every day, thousands of men and women volunteer to stand up and fight for our freedom. Our politicians, our servicemen and servicewomen, our rescue workers, our paramedics, our law enforcement members, our firefighters, and many, many more, pay the ultimate price each and every day to keep us safe and free. These people are not forced to do any of this; rather, they are compelled to stand up for what we all believe in. They believe in the fight, and will stop at nothing to guarantee that we, as Americans, are safe and free.

As we take the day to remember those brave, innocent souls lost on that faithful day, take a moment to thank one of those heroes that stand up or stood up for our freedom. Take a moment to pray for those fighting for us, and be proud of this nation, and what it stands for.

God bless.