Reflections on 9/11

We invite you to reflect on the attacks of September 11, 2001.  It has been twenty-five years—a quarter of a century— since that awful day.  Some of you remember that morning well, where you were and what you were doing as you watched events unfold.  Others of you are too young to remember that day or were born after it occurred. Whichever applies to you, we stand united in our remembrance of the souls lost and the enduring impact on their families, our communities, and the nation.

That morning, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners. They crashed two into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.  Both towers collapsed with civilian victims and first responders inside. They crashed the third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.  Hijackers downed the fourth airliner into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after the passengers fought for control of the plane. Its original target was likely either the White House or the United States Capitol. In all, 2,977 victims lost their lives in the attacks to include 403 first responders (firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and law enforcement officers).

In the days and months following the attacks, Americans vowed to never forget.  One way to ensure that we remember is to share our stories and reflections of that day.  To that end, there is a program being held this morning at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston entitled “September 11th: 25 Years After, Remembrance, Reflection and Community.” The program is co-sponsored by the Roger Williams University Institute for Race and the Law, the Boston Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston and is giving attendees an opportunity to be in community, to learn and listen, and share their own experiences.  

During the event, attendees are receiving a printed collection of personal narratives. The book being distributed is a collection of reflections on 9/11, edited by RWU Law’s own Professor Natasha Nandlal Varyani, Director of the Institute for Race and Law.  We are also making that book, Twenty-five Years After September 11, 2001: A Collection of Personal Narratives from the Day and What Followed, available for you to download and read. The program will also display slides with quotes from book contributors.

On this anniversary of 9/11, we hope that you will take some time to remember or learn more about the unimageable loss we suffered as a nation and the acts of bravery, unity, and service that continues to inspire us to this day.  In addition to this collection of personal narratives, there are many resources available to you as you reflect.  If you need a place to start, take a look at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum—25th Anniversary portal, September 11—National Museum or American History portal, or the National Archives.