A Ten-Year Tribute To The Victims & Heroes Of 9/11

9/11/2001 will be etched in the hearts & minds of Americans forever for two primary reasons - good and bad. On the tragic side, it was a day when 3,000 innocent people lost their lives. However, it was also a day when the best of humanity emerged, with people helping or in some cases even sacrificing their lives for friends, colleagues and in most cases, total strangers. Today, on the 10th anniversary of this tragic event, we tip our hats to all the victims and unsung heroes who came together to save the nation from what could have been an even worse tragedy.

For those of you too young to remember this terrible day, here is a brief synopsis.

Ten years ago today, 19 terrorists, organized into four groups each with an expert pilot, hijacked four commercial flights from Newark, Washington D.C. and Boston - all picked strategically, because they were heading long distances either to Los Angeles and San Francisco and therefore, loaded with fuel.

Two headed to the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, hitting the high-rises at 8.46am and 9.03am respectively, while the third flew to Virginia and crashed into the Pentagon at 9.37am. The fourth was believed to have been headed to the Capitol or White House - However, the terrorists efforts were thwarted by brave passengers who tried to seize control - While they did succeed in diverting the flight and preventing thousands of more deaths, they were not as successful in saving themselves. The plane crashed in an empty field outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

For those who were at the scene or watched the entire chain of events unfold on live television, it was like a super bad dream or watching a horror movie. At the end of the aftermath, over 3,000 innocent people lost their lives with the impact rippling through to thousands of families, who are still trying to get over this unnecessary act of violence.

September 11, 2001 was truly a tragedy of epic proportions - One that will never be forgotten. However, similar to other tragic events like the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964, it has made us more resilient and come together as a nation - Regardless of color, creed or gender - Something, we should all be proud of. So be sure to take some time today to remember all those who lost their lives on that fateful day and continue to do so, in the ongoing war against terrorism that the world has been involved in, since.

Resources: cnn.com, wikipedia.com