The World Trade Center Fall on the morning of September 11, 2001 was an event that would ultimately change our American way of life forever. That day is forever be etched in my heart and mind. The only other event that has impacted my life in a similar manner was when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. I will forever remember my location and what I was doing when I heard the terrible news.

On the late afternoon of Septembr 10, I received a lay off notice from my engineering position. The next morning I had planned to visit my local unemployment my local unemployment office. On the way a puzzling breaking news story came over my truck's radio. It was being reported that a small plane had just crashed into the World Trade Center. Little did I or the world know the tragedy that was about to unfold. Just as I arrived at my unemployment office another breaking news story reported that all government offices would close immediately. Apparently a commercial jet had been high jacked and intentionally crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, at 8:48 am EDT, American Airlines Flight 11 did in fact intentionally crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. It was believed that the crash occurred between the 95th and 103rd floors. The individuals on those floors were instantly killed and those above the crash zone were hopelessly trapped by fire below.

While the North Tower continued to burn out of control a second commercial jet made its way toward the South Tower. At 9:03 EDT United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower sending a plume of fire shooting out of the opposite side of the building. Many workers had evacuated from the building after they witnessed the North Tower being struck. The problem was that some workers had been told to remain in their offices which sadly resulted in their deaths. Television news crews actually filmed individuals jumping from the building to their death rather than being burns alive.

The trapped individuals on the upper floors of North Tower were probably hoping and praying for the police and firefighters to reach them. The police and firefighters worked fearlessly to reach the trapped, but for many their escape was not to be.

It is thought that the extreme heat of the fire from the jet fuel burning uncontrollably caused the supporting steel to melt. As the steel would melt and became weak one floor would collapse on to the floor below. With the added weight and pressure of the floor collapsing to lower floors the building was doomed.

At 10:05 am, about 90 minutes after the South Tower was struck, it collapsed to the ground. Even though the South Tower was the second to be struck, it was the first to collapse. Hundreds of policemen, firefighters, rescue workers and those trying to escape the tower were crushed to death in the collapse.

At 10:29 am, just a mere twenty-four minutes after the South Tower collapsed, the North Tower fell to the ground. It looked as though the floors fell on top of one another like a pancake. All of those people and emergency workers that had remained inside were crushed to death. When the tower fell it loosed a tidal wave of dust swept throughout the city. The people that were nearby the North Tower ran in a state of utter panic as the cloud of dirt and debris covered them.

I remember the emptiness and unbelief I felt when the South Tower fall. When the North Tower collapsed that emptiness and unbelief turned to rage and anger. All I could think of was those innocent people who left that morning for work would never be coming home.

Who are the real victims of the World Trade Center Fall? The victims are all of the fathers and mothers who lost children and grandchildren. The victims are all of the sons and daughters who lost fathers and mothers. The victims are all of those who lost friends and family. The victims are all of those who suffered physical and emotional injuries. The victims are all those who lost their jobs or suffered financial hardships.

Terrorism has made us all victims is some ways. Under the pretense of national security our actions, our opinions, our bank accounts and even our spending habits are monitored. We now are required, if asked, to submit to intrusive body searches at all of our airports. We must pass through metal detectors at our schools, at our courthouses, at our public outdoor gatherings and even at our sporting events. I realize that these security requirements are ultimately for our protection. Maybe I am a little old fashioned, but I long for the days again when a man's word is his bond, when women and children can go for walks or bicycle rides without the fear of being raped or abducted and to be able to escort a friend or family member to the airport and actually stay with them at their departing gate until their airplane departs.

Even though we all have been victimized to some extent, we can NOT continue to act like victims, but we must do everything we can in order to preserve the freedom of this great nation. Terrorism may have caused the World Trade Center Fall, but our foundation is freedom and liberty which will never fall or fail.