9/11 Anniversary: September 11 Snapshots & Stories

The fire and rubble caused by those four maliciously guided jetliners devastated lower Manhattan, Arlington, Va., and Shanksville, Pa. But the shockwaves went around the world and continue to reverberate to this day. Patch has collected hundreds of stories about how the attacks of September 11, 2001, have affected people's lives. Explore this gallery to read about all the ways that people have responded to tragedy with hope and resilience. For all of HuffPost's September 11 coverage, click here. And share your story about how the 9/11 attacks affected you by clicking here.

Comments

[Johnny McKay]

11:33 AM on 09/13/2011

Congrats on having visited Ground Zero, I guess? I've been there, too. I know someone who lost some very close friends in the towers (his story is one of those profiled in this piece), and he said it best when he said that you can't hold an entire religion hostage for the acts of a few people. I feel bad for Muslims, more than any group in the world, for what they've had to endure from the public eye for something they had no hand in doing.

How dare you level an all-encompassing slight against Muslims (saying they're plotting another attack at a COMMUNITY CENTER) and then in the same post say that the Oklahoma City bombers weren't true Christians. Speak with ANY Muslim and ask them how truly Muslim those attackers were. They CONDEMN that behavior. Also, learn to use spellcheck. Thanks.

[Ossit]

08:19 AM on 09/13/2011

Nor do I appreciate being called "heartless" like boxerbuddy4 said to me because I say How 'bout move on, move on, move on? To be eternally stuck IN tragedy IS a tragedy.

[MacArthur JG]

07:31 AM on 09/13/2011

As the days fleets by in to months and years - now we are commemorating the 10th year of the horrifying event where 3000 thousand innocent lives perished , though we cant bring back these lives but their spirits remain in Ground Zero in the soil of USA .
We thank God and Our American heroes for eliminating the al queda leader in the same manner the cold blooded muslim savage / the mastermind of the Sept.11 plot - killed those innocent lives in USA soil .
The enemies are falling in the inferno one by one until the muslim / islamic terrorism,radicalism and extremism are totally eradicated from this peaceful earth.
It is we the peace loving mankinds and all peace loving nations to put our resources together - to nip the bud of the remaining islamic / muslim radicals and extremists before they contaminate the minds of the young muslim generations to have them imbued with hatred & blood and terrorists activities against the non - muslims .
AINT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE - IF ALL NATIONS AND ITS PEACE LOVING MANKINDS STAND UNITED IN ERADICATING THE RADICALISM , EXTREMISM ,FANATICSM AAND THE TERRORISM .
GOD BLESS AMERICA .

[Ossit]

07:31 AM on 09/13/2011

Me, big, strong, SEAL, hate enemy who take down 2,983 lives but glad to take down enemy without rifle. Me run behind tree when snipers shoot. Me not brave then. Me not go through hail of gunfire. Me too scared being shot. But me very brave when shoot sniper when he put down rifle. Me so scared of unarmed man, me shoot him, pound chest and roar victory cry. Me freeze when man with rifle points it. Me not like equal playing field. Me shout with indignation that enemy take down lots of people, but me not brave enough to shoot that one man if he hold gun. Oh no! Him being unarmed give me strength, give me courage. Enemy kill many people. But stand alone without gun and shoot him, be no real threat, much easier.

[Ossit]

07:25 AM on 09/13/2011

Darn this fat fingered typing syndrome! All sarcasm aside, shooting an UNarmed man is cowardly just like shooting a man in the back instead of looking in his eye

[ae12wrangell]

06:00 PM on 09/12/2011

Everything in the United States started to fall apart with 1 village. Levittown, NY. Levitt built it, named it for himself (His ego had to be close to Trump's) then has rule's; No fence's, no laundry in daytime, and no negro's. I know it's off the mark, but bare w/me. Then come's 1957 and a house in Garden City, Iowa is broken into and 4 are murdered "In Cold Blood". Since that date, we trust nobody. Sure we have our police, and commiune watche's, but EVERY door to every house has been locked ever since, EVERY car has been locked before we go to bed. And, we still see people getting mugged, or other crimes. I was 27 and security at a HoJo Plant, and got mugged. I basically told the perp to "Eat *&%$ and die!" then jumped onto the side of a truck to a nearby phone, and getting 911 is not easy. Since when do you need the exact address?

[ae12wrangell]

06:22 PM on 09/12/2011

Before you Fav or flag me, read that entire post, again.

[Jeff McConnell]

09:32 PM on 09/12/2011

I have no idea what you just said, actually.

[Ossit]

05:00 PM on 09/12/2011

I said: How 'bout move on, move on, move on?

Jeff McConnell said: I choose to remember.
I take it that you lost no one as the result of the events of 9/11 Ossit?

No I didn't. But I've suffered family loss to death. I still remember them, but I don't obsess about it. If you choose to remember, great. Others choose to move on and not remember a death or a tragedy like 9/11 24/7. But it's an interesting thing you ask if I lost anyone on 9/11, Jeff. I'm plagued by being empathic. I felt those deaths a bit too much. I had to shut it then, and now, by refusing to watch clips and picture so I didn't lose my sanity by being being overwhelmed, so I'm not a cold fish.

[Jeff McConnell]

09:35 PM on 09/12/2011

Ossit, I still wonder if you have had anyone ripped from your life through such a tragedy. Everyone's Grandma dies, but it is not the same. I respect how you have learned to handle your grief regarding 9/11, but everyone needs to move on in their own time.

[Ossit]

05:40 AM on 09/13/2011

Didn't you just read my "No I didn't?" Jeff? Of course not. You cherry pick. I don't have to lose someone in a 9/11 thing to not feel loss personally. It's not the same as how grandma died? Excuse me? Now you're dictating which loss is greater? All death to grieve is important. The difference is grandma's death isn't shoved down people's throat like 9/11 and if it was, I'd be saying the same thing. Move on. Don't be stuck in time. Let granny rest. Yes, everyone needs to move on at their own time but not shovel down everyone's else's throat. I think 10 years is long enough to push it. You just don't like moving on. Isn't better to remember someone while they lived instead of obsessing how they died?

[Ossit]

04:48 PM on 09/12/2011

I said: Every baddie we find another takes their place.

ae12wrangell A ''baddie"? You're kidding right? A "baddie". Who stole the US rendition of the English language?

Now, that's funny.

[The Canadian]

02:56 PM on 09/12/2011

It's obvious that America would mark the anniversary of 9/11, but all the rest of the nations of the world should remember what happened that day.

It is said that ten years after 9/11 America now stands at a crossroads. And it's true. But so does the rest of the world. At some point, hate and war will have to be eliminated from this world if we as a species are going to survive. 9/11 and the wars it triggered stands as a solemn reminder of what happens when hate spirals out of control.

A great many powerful feelings are still evoked by 9/11. Shame, sorrow, regret, hatred. In America, in so many ways, 9/11 has fragmented the country, as the terrorists intended.

But the 10th anniversary of 9/11 can lead to a much better future if people deeply examine what happened on the streets of New York that day. It was remarkable.

When the crisis was at its worst, people instantly realized that the forces of violence and hate were indiscriminate, and they helped their fellow citizens without reservation, forgetting for a sweet time about things like race, religious creed or political allegiance. They were one as a people.

This is the lesson of 9/11. Ultimately, the human race must pull together if we want a better future. People need to have this 'spirit of 9/11' in their hearts so one day there will be no more days like that one.

[Ossit]

05:46 AM on 09/13/2011

Who says, The Canadian, that the rest of the nations must remember. What makes you think they don't? And if they have other things on their minds, why can't they have that? Should other nations remember every little bad thing in their countries? I should say not. The U.S. has no right to dictate what other countries remember and what they don't. It's not fair to place the burden on other countries to remember our tragedies. Seems a bit tyrannical don't you think? What happened on 9/11 was remarkable? Now it's being romanticized? There's still a lot of Muslim bashing so race, religion, creed, and political allegience is not respected anymore. All Muslims are still being blamed. We've got to stop obsessing about 9/11.

[KarateKid]

10:15 AM on 09/12/2011

We are rapidly becoming just like the people we despise.

[andrwsroe]

02:11 AM on 09/12/2011

Imam Ali flew one of the planes into the twin towers.

Nice huh?
Try telling me we're not in a

Religious war! THIS HAS NOT BEEN AROUND....SO MAKE SURE IT DOES!

=

[Ossit]

01:32 AM on 09/12/2011

Christ! Give it a rest! Everyone had a good time messing up their weekends remembering instead of doing fun things?

Radical Extremist Muslims don't have to do a darn thing here. Our continued fear about every little "threat" which is nothing but fear mongered unsubstantiated claims have made them win. Our constant obsession and our steadfast refusal to move on has made them win. Our hatred for good Muslims has made the Extremists win because now we hate people who've done nothing just like them. Radical Islamic Extremists have moved on to targets other than American, while we're stuck in time, so they win. We replay death over and over in pictures making victims die over and over, finding new ways to exploit, so Extremists again have won as they don't replay these things ad nauseum. Extremists have won because we're as obsessed with reliving death just like them.We've become hatefully nationalistic just like them. Congratulations, America. You've done to yourselves what no taken down Tower can ever do.You've allowed terrorism to run your lives so completely than anything nice and pleasant has no place any more.

How many buildings have been taken down since here? NONE! Stop wishing for it!

[Fodder-wing]

10:21 AM on 09/12/2011

Right-on, Kid.

[Ossit]

11:11 AM on 09/12/2011

Thanks, Fodder-wing.

[TravelingBiker]

01:27 AM on 09/12/2011

My main take away from today's ceremony in my city was how sick I am of our government officials using events such as this one to make illegal government endorsements of religion.

http://intentionallyoutside.blogspot.com/2011/09/10-years-later.html

[littlepiglaugh]

01:08 AM on 09/12/2011

It sickens me how some Muslims in Astoria quuens NY Men and woman! where dancing and cheering when the twin towers fell in flames killing innocent people. In our own country, we have Muslims who dont belong here, our goverment is giving them food stamps,medicade,low priced housing and helping them build busineses, We Need to take action now! to stop these parisites and wipe out all the people who go against our American freedoms, and try to hurt our citizens. Thirty years ago they would have had thier heads handed to them if they did that in they danced in the streets cheering agains our American tragedy they don't deserve to be in America go back your barbaric society! If you dont like it here Leave!

[Theresa Rohloff]

08:36 AM on 09/12/2011

Perhaps some nice American apple pie would help with the healing. Why don't you make one for your neighbors. Forgiveness will, in the end, be a blessing for you. Know that the majority of those in these United States came to the country just as our forefathers did for a better life. Know that our forefathers, some of them, ravaged the American natives who were here before us. In that regard, those who call themselves the righteious long-term Americans are likely just as guilty as any immigrants of celebrating wrongly other's hardship. Think about it and consider how it sounds. Please stop stereotyping; this is the reaction that keeps our world in turmoil.

[Johnny McKay]

10:16 AM on 09/12/2011

That is actually a misconception that it was in the U.S. It was actually in the Gaza Strip by all accounts I've ever heard, and every single Muslim I've ever talked to has been absolutely disgusted by what happened and unfairly targeted. Remember, Taliban/al-Qaeda are extremist groups that hurt/torture the Muslim population.

[usranger94]

01:00 AM on 09/12/2011

I wasn't in country on 9/11, all I could was watch and pray. I watched as so many people rallied to help. I watched the heroics of flight 93 fight not only for their lives, but for all our lives. There wasn't any black or white, jew or gentile, it was just Americans doing what they have always done. They came together, they put themselves in harm's way because nothing they would ever do would matter as much. At the end of the day we took stock, we looked around at the aftermath, and we started to pick up the peices.
I held on to that feeling I had, and I knew that soon enough I would get the chance to do my part. It's so important for all of us to remember that day, you can choose your own reason why. For me, it will always be the sacrifice, for all those who lost their lives, for those who love them, and for every American who never quit when no one would've blamed them if they had.

But I don't think they made a choice, I think they were just being Americans.

Rangers Lead the Way!