Heroes Disguised as Ordinary People – Remembering September 11, 2001

Many of us can remember exactly where we were on this day 17 years ago. We can easily recall to mind the shock and horror that flooded our hearts as the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil unfolded. Four planes were hijacked by terrorists – two crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon, and another onto a field in Pennsylvania. 3,000 people lost their lives that day. 6,000 were injured. Countless others lost co-workers, friends, and loved ones. 

Though September 11, 2001 was a day of unthinkable tragedy, it was also a day of remarkable heroism as many selfless Americans transcended their own fears to save the lives of others.

Remember the brave group of United Flight 93 passengers who fought back against terrorist hijackers. Preventing the plane from reaching its target (likely the US Capitol Building), the plane instead crashed into an empty field, killing all 44 passengers but saving countless lives.

Remember Rick Rescorla, head of corporate security at Morgan Stanley, who gave his life escorting more than 2,700 employees to safety – all while singing to them to help them keep calm.

Remember Pentagon tour guide, Beau Doboszenski who spent hours alternating between treating injured victims of the Pentagon attack and returning back into the flaming building to rescue survivors.

Remember Betty Ann Ong, a flight attendant on the first hijacked plane, who amidst chaos and terror, was able to hide and place a call, providing crucial information that led to the FAA closing the airspace.

Remember Welles Crowther, a 24-year old equities trader who lead more than a dozen strangers to safety from the 78th floor of the south tower, carrying one injured woman 17 stories on his back, and then returning to save more. He sacrificed his life in the process.

Remember that not all of the heroes were humans. Rescue dogs with bloody paws and smoke-stung eyes spent days relentlessly searching for ground zero survivors.

These are only a handful of the heroic stories that emerged from the tragic events of 9/11. Today, we honor both the ‘sung’ and unsung heroes who endeavored such incredible acts of courage.

We are all capable of extraordinary things. Keep this in mind as you carry out your own heroic work in the classroom, as you are directly influencing our next generation of heroes.