A Day We Will Never Forget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165
This Friday will mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks – a day that changed our nation forever.
It was a sunny September morning when al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four civilian aircrafts, turning them into suicide weapons for mass murder. The first two planes hit the World Trade Centers in New York City. 2,753 people were killed in the Twin Towers, as they both collapsed to the ground. New Yorkers were seen jumping from the burning buildings, preferring to fall to their own death, instead of being consumed by fires caused by the actions of evil terrorists. The footage is something I will never forget watching.
Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of our nation’s defense, while the fourth plane was stopped by brave Americans who attempted to take back control of the aircraft. That plane ended up crashing into a field in Pennsylvania, taking the lives of every passenger on board and bringing the total number of deaths to 2,977.
Like most Americans, September 11, 2001 is a day I will truly never forget. At the time, I was working as a political consultant, enjoying my time in the private sector after serving several years as Oklahoma’s Secretary of State and Chief of Staff for the Republican National Committee and in the Oklahoma legislature. During an advisory meeting for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, one of my roles as a consultant, the news of the attacks broke. We gathered on the fourth floor of the building, looking out the window at the White House. I will never forget the Bush Administration employees pouring out of the building as we saw smoke rise from the Pentagon across the river. At the same time, FBI agents were running into the U.S. Chamber headquarters to take their positions and keep us safe.
In that moment, sad, angry, and disgusted, I knew I was watching history. That event forever changed me in so many ways, as it was actually what steered me back into running for office. Yet, while our country was deeply shaken, America itself was not broken.
In the face of horrific tragedy, we demonstrated unity, resilience, strength, and courage. Americans truly rallied around the flag, supporting one another in the face of adversity. We showed the world that even in our darkest hour, the United States will endure – a reality that I believe remains just as powerful and true today and every day.
So, this Friday, on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, let us pause to remember the 2,977 innocent lives taken too soon, stand with the loved ones they left behind, and honor the brave first responders who acted with courage and heroism on that tragic day. At the same time, we must also continue to stand in unity with the survivors who must still live with the trauma to this day.
September 11, 2001 was a day of inconceivable tragedy and loss. At the same time, it was a day that brought us together as Americans. Twenty five years later, as we remember and reflect on the 9/11 attacks, let’s do so with unity as we show our respect for those we lost and for this great country we are so fortunate to call home.