September 11, 2001

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a difficult moment for America.

Today, we’ve had a national tragedy. 

Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country.”

President Bush making the announcement at a Florida school after a second plane crashed into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on this date in 2001.

The first plane had struck the north tower at 8:46 that morning and around 17 minutes later when the second plane struck, the world knew this was no accident but a coordinated terrorist attack.

Another hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37am and the fourth crashed at 10:03 into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The immediate deaths included 265 on the four planes (including the terrorists), 2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon.

The attacks were the deadliest terrorist act in world history, and the most devastating foreign attack on United States soil since the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

In honor of those killed in the attacks, Governor DeWine has ordered that all U.S. and Ohio flags be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state on this Patriot Day.

The order will be in effect from now until sunset this evening.