RNLA Remembers: 20th Anniversary of 9/11

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day that forever changed the United States. The George W. Bush Presidential Library recounts:

On September 11, 2001 (9/11), nineteen terrorists from the militant Islamist terrorists group al-Qaeda, hijacked four commercial airplanes in a coordinated attack on the United States of America. These terrorists used the aircraft to attack the World Trade Center buildings and the Pentagon. The fourth plane, Flight 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers on the aircraft stormed the cockpit. That Tuesday morning 2,977 people were killed.

September 11, 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In the twenty years since one of the worst days in America's history, the United States has taken part in a Global War on Terror, created the Department of Homeland Security, and changed how information is shared amongst law enforcement entities and within the intelligence community.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum notes:

This was the single largest loss of life resulting from a foreign attack on American soil. The attacks caused the deaths of 441 first responders, the greatest loss of emergency responders on a single day in American history.

Countless heroes were born on 9/11 and in the days that followed.

RNLA Chairman Larry Levy worked for New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at the time of the attacks:

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was in my office in City Hall preparing for our daily morning meeting with Mayor Giuliani and the senior staff. When I heard the first plane hit the World Trade Center, I joined 2 colleagues as we rushed to the scene. We watched people jump from the top floors to escape the fire, and watched 7 World Trade Center, the city’s emergency response headquarters be engulfed in flames. For the next four months we all worked 7 days a week, how could we not.

We must always remember the incredible heroism of the Fire Fighters, Police, EMT’s and other emergency responders. We must always remember the spirit of America, as we all came together to heal and were united in our resolve and respect for each other. And, we must remember the inspired leadership of Rudy Giuliani, who at that time was truly America’s Mayor and the hero we all needed.

You can join the 9/11 Memorial & Museum virtually to honor the victims of the attacks on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. ET.

We hope you will join us in remembering the lives lost on and as a result of September 11, 2001, and their families.