The world remembers the twin towers attack famously as 9/11. This event shook America and changed the course of history. On this day 19 hijackers took hold of the four planes of United Airlines with the aim to destroy their three major targets, World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and U.S. Capitol. The attack resulted in 2,997 fatalities, 25,000 injuries along with the economic and architectural loss. Besides physical, many of the people had to go through mental torture and stress. The fact that such events leave people with lifetime mental health issues is of no doubt. These issues may comprise depression, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or anxiety. People with ADHD have behavioral issues. They might take ADD treatment for that and anxiety patients may undergo regular therapies but the outcomes of such mental stress last longer.

The reaction of The USA

The whole of America came forward in condemning the attacks. The American civilian and military leadership took some major decisions in the wake of twin towers attack. In a speech on September 20th, George W Bush asked citizens to be

“Calm and resolute even in the face of a continuing threat”

He announced the ‘War against terror’. He said targeting the attackers,

“They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness and now they will see defeat.”

This attack obviously garnered a global reaction. All the global community expressed their grief and shared the American anger and condemnation against the perpetrators of the attack. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder declared that the events were,

“Not only attacks on the people in the United States, our friends in America, but also against the entire civilized world, against our own freedom, against our own values, values that we share with the American people. We will not let these values be destroyed.”

The common public in America came out in huge numbers to mourn the deadly attacks. They began to commemorate the victims and demonstrate their patriotism. One such man talking to a reporter emphasized on the importance of unity in the trying times, he said,

“We all feel differently about what to do in response, but

Everybody seems to agree that we’ve got to be together

No matter what happens. So you get a little bit of hope

in togetherness.”

New York Times

One Day Hundred Stories

Many families lost their loved ones to this tragedy. In their memories, this date will never vanish. Every person killed had their own story. One such grieving wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl, ‘Sandy Dahl’ said, speaking on the first anniversary of 9/11,

“If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that

life is short and there is no time for hate.”

A left-behind sister Anthoula Katsimatides remembers his brother on the fourth anniversary of the un-fateful day

“My older brother John lived (his life) in Technicolor….

When he walked in the door, the whole house lit up.

And I’m sure heaven lit up when he got there too.”

Patriot Day

Americans remember this day as Patriot Day. On this day they pay tribute to the people killed by the attacks and those who got killed saving others. On the 15th anniversary of 9/11 former American President George Bush said,

“Time is passing, yet for The United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children”.

Also,

“September 11, 2001, revealed heroism in ordinary people who might have gone through their lives never called upon to demonstrate the extent of their courage”

President Obama said on the 10th anniversary of the deadly day,

“Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of the unity that followed 9/11.”

Colin Powell was recorded saying that,

“You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over the tragedy.”

The Survivors

Besides the many victims who got killed by the attackers, there were many who ended up as survivors on that day. In their memories, those attacks will be attached forever. Many survivors over the years came forward and told their respective stories.

A survivor Wendy Lansky who is also a Horizon employee; speaks often about the harrowing tale of her escape from the World Trade Center. She shared her tale in an optimistic manner saying,

“I’m a real person who survived, one who benefitted from the kindness of so many strangers. No, you can’t stop terrorism single-handedly. But we can all do something…a good deed or a kind word- that can make a difference.”

It is obvious that the twin towers attack remains the most defining event of the last decade. It still lives in the memories of the American people.