Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 marks the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers. Since that fateful day 13 years ago, the worldhas changed. The U.S. government began the “War on Terror” shortly after the attacks in October of 2001, the U.S. troops invaded Iraq and Afghanistan in 2001 and 2003 respectively, Saddam Hussein was executed in 2003, and Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011. The United States has seen great success with its military and political actions in the Middle East, but the 9/11 Memorial stands as a reminder of the work that still needs tobe done.This year, the new National Sept. 11 Memorial & Museum will remain open after 6 p.m. for the first time since its opening. The new 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center will also open this fall. Families of first responders and relatives of those who lost their lives in the 2001 and 1993 Trade Center attacks will be able to visit the memorial and museum from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, before the public ceremony, according to NY Daily News.In February of this year, members of the Ke Alaka‘i news team visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City during a trip to the College Media Advisors Convention. During a visit to the 9/11 Memorial, Hannah Packard, an EXS major and writer for the Ke Alaka‘i from California, said, “I went there to be reverent and to remember the lives that were lost. I went to remember just the tragedy of it, not the anger and the injustice, just the sadness that something like this had impacted our nation so negatively.” Those who lost loved ones during the attacks said they take time on Sept. 11 to remember the ones they lost. Rylin Shore, a freshman from California majoring in biology, lost his uncle, who was visiting the South tower, 13 years ago. “I was really young when it happened, but my parents talk about it pretty often. There’s a respect that I’ve grown up with for my uncle and the other people who were lost on 9/11.” Shore explained this time of year is difficult for his family, but they are grateful for those who built the memorial in New York City. Packard said she is grateful for the memorial too and grateful for “how much effort went into making a special, beautiful place for remembering.” Thousands of lives were lost on 9/11, and more lives continue to be lost in the “War on Terror.” They are all reverenced and remembered at the 9/11 Memorial. Speaking about the threat of ISIS in the Middle East on Sept. 10 of this year, President Barack Obama said, “We will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are. This is a core principle of my presidency: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.”
Writer: Jessica Tautfest ~ Multimedia Journalist
