Attack on America

That is what CNN was calling it.  I titled my journal entry the same, and drew an American flag on each side.  I was 19 years old, attending the newly named BYU-Idaho.  My journal entry from that day follows.  As I read it and remember the emotions that I felt on that day, it reminds me to be grateful for those who serve our country and for the freedoms that we have.

Attack on America  - Tuesday September 11, 2001

This morning was historic for all of us.  This day was tragic for all of us, even depressing.  Many emotions going through everyone's heads.  Who could do such a thing?  Why did they do it?  What now?  Are we safe?  How could this happen?  How will we respond?  Tons and tons of questions.

At 8:45am: A hijacked passenger jet, American Airlines flight 11 out of Boston, MA crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in NYC tearing a gaping hole in the building & setting it on fire.

At 9:03am: A second hijacked airliner, United Airlines flight 175 from Boston, crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center & explodes.  Both buildings are burning.

9:40am: The FAA halted all flight operations at US airports, the first time in US history that air traffic nationwide has been halted.

9:43am: American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.  Flames & a huge plume of smoke were sent up.  The Pentagon was evacuated.

9:45am: The White House evacuates.

9:57am: Pres. Bush departed from Florida.

10:05am: The south tower of the WTC collapses, plummeting into the streets below.  Massive cloud of smoke & debris.

10:10am: United Airlines flight 93, also hijacked, crashes in Somerset County, PA.

10:28am: The WTC's north tower collapses from the top down.

1:04pm: Pres. Bush says that all appropriate security measures are being taken, including putting the US military on high alert worldwide.  He asks for prayers for those killed or wounded in the attacks.  He says "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down & punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."

1:27pm: Washington declares state of emergency.

4:00pm: US officials say there are "good indications" that Saudi militant Osama Bin Laden, suspected of coordinating the bombings of 2 US embassies in 1998, is involved in the attacks, based on "new & specific" information developed since attacks.

5:20pm: Building 7 (47-story) of the WTC complex collapses.

5:30pm: US officials say the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania could have been headed for Camp David, White House, or the US Capitol building.

6:00pm: Explosions are heard in Kabul, Afghanistan, hours after terrorist attacks targeted financial & military centers in US.  US had no involvement with them.

8:30pm: Pres. Bush addresses the nation saying, "thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil" & asks for prayers for the families & friends of today's victims.  "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," he says.  The president says the US government will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed the acts & those who harbor them.

10:49pm: Attorney General Ashcroft told members of Congress that there were 3-5 hijackers on each plane armed w/ only knives.

That's basically the chronology of what happened today.  Such crazy stuff.  I can't believe it's happening to America!  I don't know what to think.  I was in my Business Law class when I heard about it.  I had to go to the rest of my classes as usual - everyone was talking about it.  I stopped on my way to Old Testament, in the Manwaring Center & watched the big screen TV.  Tons of students were gathered around watching the latest developments on CNN. 

America is under attack.  I can't believe it.