Remembering 9-11
Mayor David McCauley remarks at Patriot Day
September 11, 2018 – City Hall, Buckhannon, WV
Good morning and thank you for joining us for the commemoration of the horrible events that occurred about this time on September 11, 2001. Today marks the 17th anniversary of the worst terror attack in our nation’s 242-year history.
“During the September 11 attacks of 2001, 2,996 people were killed and more than 6,000 others injured.[1][2] These immediate deaths included 265 on the four planes (including the terrorists), 2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon.[3][4] The attacks were the deadliest terrorist act in world history, and the most devastating foreign attack on United States soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.[5]
Most of those who perished were civilians except for 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers who died in the World Trade Center and on the ground in New York City,[6] and another law enforcement officer who died when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania,[7] 55 military personnel who died at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia,[8] and the 19 terrorists who died on board the four aircraft. Overall, 2,605 U.S. citizens, including 2,135 civilians, died in the attacks, while an additional 372 non-U.S. citizens also perished, which represented about 12% of the total.[3] More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks,[9] including the United Kingdom (67 deaths), the Dominican Republic (47 deaths), and India (41 deaths).”
This morning, we remember all of those who perished, but we are reminded to be ever vigilant and to appreciate that terrorism lurks always ready to rear its ugly face. We thank our Buckhannon-Upshur first responders who work every day to help keep us all safe, but- we’re also reminded that we all must be cognizant of the threats to our way of life, and not to shrink away from our responsibilities to share information with our authorities about any perceived threats whether foreign or domestic. Remember- often our worst threats emanate from inside our nation and society. Before we conclude this morning’s commemoration, I have a proclamation to share-
Thank you for taking a few moments out of your day to remember 9-11 with us all.