What is certain to be one of America's most memorable tragedies and will be recognized by Americans as National Mourning Day, Tuesday, September 11, 2001 hallmarked the most widespread media coverage I have ever experienced. I routinely walked to class that morning expecting to listen to information about the upcoming paper due. Before I could make it up the steps to the classroom, a fellow classmate told me that class was cancelled. As I turned out of the library I saw my roommate who had been on campus since 7:30 that morning and heard all about the events. He gave me a brief overview but he, nor I, completely understood the ramifications of what happened. It wasn't until we went back home at turned on the television that we got all the details of the dealings.
Early that morning a hijacked passenger plane, American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, tearing a gaping hole in the building and setting it afire. Less than half an hour later a second plane, United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashed into the south tower. Both buildings were ablaze packed with everyday working people who now were trapped. Less than an hour after that another plane, American Airlines Flight 77, crashes into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. It took less than two hours before the heat from the collisions caused the World Trade Center's Twin Towers to collapse. Another plane in crashed in Pennsylvania that was reportedly headed to the White House. From the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, Building 7 of the World Trade Center collapses while other surrounding buildings are still in flames. Americans were frightened, confused, outraged, baffled, stunned, and sorrowful after this "blindside attack". There had been no warning of the attack nor did government have a definite suspect. All we knew was that people were injured, dying and dead from a unprovoked terrorist strike labeled "America: Under Attack.
