PIERRE, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Today, September 11th, is “Patriots’ Day”. Patriots’ Day commemorates those who died on and because of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, a plane flew into the North Tower at 8:46am Eastern Standard Time. At first, people thought it was some kind of freak accident similar to the B-25 US bomber that hit the Empire State Building in a dense fog back on July 28, 1945. Then, a second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center followed by a plane crashing into the Pentagon. Americans knew that something was up, and that the world had changed.
In the attacks, 2753 Americans died in New York City with 184 perishing in the Pentagon attack. The people on United Flight 93 got wind of what was happening and took action against the hijackers on their plane. They were unsuccessful in overpowering the hijackers on that flight, but their valiant efforts and sacrifice saved either the US Capitol building or the White House, we’re not sure which was the target of those terrorists. Forty Americans lost their lives on United 93.
The New York City Fire Department (NYFD) responded to the plane crashes and subsequent fires at the World Trade Center. When the towers collapsed, 343 fire fighters lost their lives. As of 2023, another 360 NYFD personnel had died due to injuries or illnesses stemming from their service on The Pile due to 9/11. Approximately, 80,000 people have reported physical and mental illnesses due to the attacks on 9/11.
The events of 9/11 brought about the “War on Terror”, America’s two decades long war in Afghanistan, TSA and other security restrictions, the militarization of the police, the Patriot Act, widespread surveillance and eavesdropping on Americans, the White House becoming a barricaded bastion, various terrorist watchlists, suspicion of and discrimination against American Muslims, metal detectors in public spaces and armed US soldiers patrolling places like airports and public transit stations as well as other changes to American liberties and the fabric of American life.
Governor Kristi Noem has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff statewide today in honor of Patriots’ Day and those who lost their lives on and because of 9/11.