We Stand United

The September 11 attacks were a gut wrenching series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks killed 2,996 people, injured over 6,000 others, and caused at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property damage. Additional people died of 9/11-related cancer and respiratory diseases in the months and years following the attacks. So, not only were these workers, rescuers, firefighters, survivors etc traumatized for life... but some are even facing long-term illness as a result.

In a time such as today... where we stand so divided and angry. We are more stressed than we have ever been. Nothing makes sense. We see too much color, when it's all just skin. We hear too much religion, and not enough love.

I encourage you to take a moment of silence while scrolling through these devastating photos taken in real time. On this day, 18 years ago, we stood united. We stood in love for our beautiful America and we held hands. We didn't throw them. Please use this time of recognition to make the conscious decision to spread love and acceptance, in the eye of death, trauma, and heart break.

1.

Shocked & in disbelief, this New Yorker watches the twin towers smolder.

pc: Andrew Lichenstein

2.

The burning towers as seen from Brooklyn.

pc: Neville Elder

3.

A man standing on the hood of a car, screams out for a missing friend as the towers collapse.

pc: Ezra Shaw

4.

In this very moment, President George W. Bush learns of the attacks while sitting in front of a class in Florida.

pc: Paul J. Richards

5.

Mike Scoot from California Task Force - 8 & his dog, Billy, search through the rubble for living or dead victims.

pc: Andrea Booher

6.

One of the hundreds of trapped victims opting to leap to their likely death than to be consumed by the fire.

pc: Jose Jimenez

7.

A firefighter emerges from smoke & debris.

pc: U.S Navy Photo; Jim Watson

8.

Massive amounts of wreckage and smoke produced by the 3 collapsed buildings, viewed from a broken office window.

pc: Eric Feferberg

9.

U.S Coast Guard members watch the towers burn in desperation to get on site by boat.

pc: U.S. Coast Guard

10.

Shocked survivor is brought to his knees after witnessing the collapse of the towers, which resulted in almost 3,000 deaths in under two hours.

pc: Jose Jimenez

11.

A man falls to his death from the World Trade Center. Many within the buildings chose to jump instead of facing the flames.

pc: Jose Jimenez

12.

The entrance into the World Financial Center briefly after the attacks, it was buried by 110 collapsed stories crashing down just minutes later.

pc: The Life Images Collection

13.

At 8:46 a.m. September 11, 2001 terrorists flew the first plane into the World Trade Center.

pc: Wikimedia

14.

After the attacks, it took more than 8 months to clear the wreckage - the last bit of rubble was removed in May of 2002.

pc: Wikimedia

15.

Toxic dust surged from the buildings resulting in long-term health issues for both survivors and responders, including incidences of cancer and decreased lung function.

pc: wikimedia

16.

Firefighters paid the ultimate price while attempting to rescue all that they could. Hundreds died during their efforts.

pc: Getty Images

17.

A German Shepherd, part of the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, works to recover survivors at the site. Nearly 100 dogs were a part of the rescue effort. <3

pc: wikimedia

18.