Never Forget

Posted on Fri Sep 11th, 2026 @ 1:40pm by Captain Patricia Cooke

25 years ago today, the world as we know it changed.

Nineteen terrorists affiliated with Al-Qaeda hijacked four domestic passenger flights operated by two major US Carriers (American Airlines and United Airlines) with the goal of targeting civilian, military, and government infrastructure in the United States. Their targets were the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.

Three of the hijacked aircraft (American Airlines flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, and American Airlines flight 77) found their targets. However, the fourth plane (United Airlines flight 93) did not. Due to heavy congestion at Newark Airport- the flight's origin airport- flight 93 was severely delayed, only just taking off when Flight 11 hit the North Tower. By the time the hijackers made their move, the element of surprise was gone, and the passengers- having learned of the other hijackings from friends and family on the ground- bravely attempted to retake the plane, leading to Flight 93 crashing into a field in Stonycreek township, Pennsylvania.

The ways that the attacks changed the world are too numerous for me to list here, and I strongly recommend that you do your own research on the impact the attacks had.

On this, the 25th anniversary of that terrible day, we stop six times to pay our respects to the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the attacks: Once for each plane, and once for both towers of the World Trade Center. We remember the innocent lives taken from us before their time, and the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice trying to help, including the brave souls on Flight 93 who fought back against evil, and saved the United States Capitol from destruction.

As long as we live, we will

Never Forget September 11, 2001.

Captain Patricia Cooke

 

Category: The Missourian (General News)

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