Remembering September 11 – Patriot Day
The dust cloud following the collapse of the South Tower (left), and a view from the same position, of the collapse of the North Tower (right). -CC Photo By JohnsonKV
By Tami Stevenson
Many communities across North Florida and the nation will pause on September 11, to remember and honor the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Local Patriot Day remembrance ceremonies -
The Live Oak Fire Department will host its annual Patriot Day remembrance ceremony with Fire Chief Sidney Hayes and other officials speaking. The ceremony will be held at the Live Oak Fire Station, 200 E Duval Street. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 9:15 a.m.
The Lake City Fire Department will also hold a Remembrance Ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. at the City of Lake City Public Safety Building, located at 225 NW Main Boulevard.
Remembering 9/11
Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four U.S. commercial airliners, hitting the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.
This terrorist attack on American soil killed nearly 3,000 men, women and children, including more than 400 firefighters, police officers, and paramedics in an effort to rescue victims. More than 6,000 were injured.
Although there is an entire generation of Americans living today that did not witness the attack, to most of the nation, what came to be known as Patriot Day, 9/11 is a very vivid memory.
The nation was glued to the television as the horror unfolded that dreadful day. Most can remember where they were and what they were doing the day the twin towers fell, when the Pentagon was hit and a thwarted strike on Washington, D.C. that occurred when passengers from United Airlines Flight 93 (the fourth plane) bravely fought the hijackers, forcing the aircraft down in a Pennsylvania field. Their courage and sacrifice prevented the strike on Washington, D.C., saving countless lives.
Families were torn apart, communities were shaken, and the nation’s sense of security was forever altered. But out of the devastation emerged countless acts of bravery and compassion — from first responders to ordinary citizens helping victims find safety.
In the years that followed, the World Trade Center site was transformed into the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, featuring two reflecting pools engraved with the names of the victims. A memorial at the Pentagon honors those killed there, while in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the Flight 93 National Memorial stands as a tribute to the passengers whose resistance saved untold lives.
Each anniversary, moments of silence mark the exact times the planes struck and the towers fell. Families read the names of the victims, while bells toll in remembrance. For many, the day remains both a painful memory and a call to unite Americans.
September 11, 2001 was the largest and deadliest foreign terrorist attack on U.S. soil. It wasn’t the first attack, but it was the most devastating in scale, coordination, and impact.
Nearly a quarter century later, Patriot Day is remembered not only for the death and devastation it caused but also for the resilience it revealed — a reminder of courage in the face of terror and the enduring strength of Americans.
Ground zero today - The World Trade Center site was transformed into the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. -CC Photo by Paul Sableman
