At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, in New York City, my life was changed forever.
It was 8:46 AM on September 11, 2001, the day that changed my life forever. It was the start of the day with the most people killed in U.S. history. Everyone knows where they were at that time. I was just 23 years old and living in New York City. I was from Texas. I moved to New York to experience the city’s exciting energy and unique possibilities.
When I heard the biggest blast, I was at work at Merrill Lynch on the top floor of the World Financial Center, which is next to the World Trade Center.
I ran to the window and saw something I couldn’t believe. I was speechless. On top of the 1 World Trade Center (North Tower), there was a huge hole. Dark smoke and huge flames were coming out of the tower, and chunks of silver metal from the building’s siding were flying through the air like fireworks. Toilet paper rolls, thousands of pieces of computer paper, and other things fell from the sky.
As a second plane flew into 2 World Trade Center (South Tower), we saw eviler and fear. We were getting hurt. But why was this going on? We were living in the U.S. This kind of thing never happened here. I felt like I was living through a scary nightmare, but it was all real.
As time went on, the sight of people jumping to their deaths from the upper floors of the World Trade Center became more horrible. The killing was horrible.
That day, I saw the best and worst of people.
Angelic fighters stepped up to help.
The brave work of the FDNY, the NYPD, and the Port Authority Police saved a lot of lives. Most people were running away from the horror and death, but they were running toward it to save lives.
Several brave and selfless New Yorkers died in the towers because they stayed behind to make sure everyone else got out first.
A group of brave passengers on United Flight 93 worked together to fight back against the attackers and take control of the plane back from them. People from all walks of life did brave things, like giving up their own lives to save others.
John 15:13 says, “No one has a greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” On September 11, 2001, these heroes died for their friends, but most of them also died for people they didn’t know. They made brave sacrifices because they cared about people and loved America.
The group Al Qaeda Four business planes were taken over by Islamist attackers who wanted to destroy our country and our freedoms. But it didn’t work out. The U.S. won because it was very determined and didn’t give up.
After September 11, 2001, many people joined the U.S. service. Since the attacks, more than 7,000 soldiers have died in battle, and sadly, more than 30,000 soldiers and survivors have killed themselves.
Not only do a lot of servicemen and women get hurt physically, like missing limbs, but they also deal with the less obvious mental and emotional injuries that come from stress. Many people have seen their armed brothers or sisters die right in front of them.
We should be thankful to the people in the troops and the police who keep our country safe every day. Thank you to the Gold Star families, whose loved ones fought for our rights and gave their lives. Freedom isn’t free—it costs something.
In total, 2,977 people died that terrible morning, and since then, thousands more have died from illnesses linked to 9/11.
As I ran away from my building, I made a quiet promise to God that I would do my best to be an example for Him and give back in the future. I was told that life is fragile and that I should make the most of it.
Eight years later, I decided to quit working in finance and keep my promise to give back to my country by becoming an FBI special agent. I worked for the Bureau for more than a decade.
Most of us won’t be asked or expected to give our lives for someone else or for our country. But each of us can make a small sacrifice by making someone else’s life easier, shining a light on a dark situation, standing up for the truth, giving people hope, or doing something else to help those in need.
During this important ceremony, let’s take a moment to think about the people who died and the people who helped after September 11. May we all think about what we can give up to give back and help our great country.
I’m lucky and happy to be an American. We stand together. We have faith in God. We can never forget September 11, 2001.