It only took 102 minutes to change our future.
When American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001, it changed the path of each and every American, especially felt by many of us here today as we prepare to go to Iraq.
New York's emergency services were among the first on the scene.
17 minutes: 9:03 a.m.
In the 17-minute period between 8:46 and 9:03 a.m. on September 11, New York City and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey had mobilized the largest rescue operation in the city's history. More than a thousand first responders had been deployed, an evacuation had begun, and the critical decision that the fire could not be fought had been made.
Then the second plane hit.
United Airlines Flight 175 hit the South Tower.
The last best hope for the community of people working in or visiting the World Trade Center rested not with national policymakers but with private firms and local public servants, especially the first responders: fire, police, emergency medical service, and building safety professionals.
The emergency response effort escalated with the crash of United 175 into the South Tower. With that escalation, communications as well as command and control became increasingly critical and increasingly difficult. First responders assisted thousands of civilians in evacuating the towers.
35 minutes: 9:37 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77 hits the west wall of the Pentagon.
In addition to county fire, police, and sheriff's departments, the response was assisted by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Fire Department, Fort Myer Fire Department , the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the FBI, FEMA, a National Medical Response Team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and numerous military personnel within the Military District of Washington.
22 minutes: 9:59 a.m. the South Tower collapses.
The principal first responders were from the Fire Department of New York, the New York Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), and the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
1 minute: 10 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93 crashes southeast of Pittsburg.
29 minutes: 10:29 a.m. the North Tower collapses.
102 minutes.
It only took 102 minutes to take 2,973 lives.
2,973 lives.
On September 11, the nation suffered the largest loss in its history as the result of an outside hostile attack.
The Fire Department of New York suffered 343 fatalities: the largest loss of life of any emergency response agency in history.
The Port Authority Police Department suffered 37 fatalities: the largest loss of life of any police force in history.
The New York Police Department suffered 23 fatalities: the second largest loss of life of any police force in history.
81 passengers, nine flight attendants and two pilots died Flight 11
56 passengers; two pilots and seven flight attendants Flight 175
37 passengers, two pilots and five flight attendants Flight 93
58 passengers, four flight attendants and two pilots aboard the Flight 77 were killed, as were
125 people inside the Pentagon - 70 civilians and 55 military service members
102 minutes.
These were teh first casualties.
As we go on this path that was set for us eight years ago, let us hope that we meet any challenges with the same courage and conviction these men and women met theirs.
As we light a candle and place a white carnation on the table let us take a few minutes to honor their sacrifice.
* information to write this memorial was used from The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the 9-11 Commission) final report and articles from USA Today. Speech was given by 1st Lt. Olivia Cobiskey at a Sept. 11 memorial at Fort Dix, N.J.