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Patriot Day is a meant for remembering those we lost.
By Jessica Xing — Last updated on Sep 11, 2022
Though it still seems like yesterday to many, this year we commemorate the 21st anniversary of 9/11 and the four deadly attacks that claimed the lives of 2996 Americans on September 11, 2001.
The first of four attacks killed everyone on board American Airlines Flight 11 as it crashed into the North Tower. Just 17 minutes later, hijackers crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into the South Tower, killing all on board that flight as well. In total, 2606 people in the World Trade Center lost their lives.
Almost 3000 people died in what many call the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil, including 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, and 55 military personnel — and the powerful 9/11 quotes below help us remember the tragic day Americans will never forget.
Not only were both of the Twin Towers targeted, but a third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, hit the Pentagon a little under an hour later, killing 125. And fourth plane — United Airlines Flight 93 — crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, as crew and passengers struggled to wrestle control from the hijackers, again killing all on board.
Now 20 years later, the World Trade Center has since been rebuilt as a single tower named "One World Trade Center" — commonly known as "Freedom Tower" — alongside the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, located where the original World Trade Center once stood.
While New York has healed in some ways since the tragedy, 9/11 has left a deep mark, not only on the city but also on the American ethos.
The day known as 9/11 or Patriot Day is meant to remember those who died in the attacks on September 11, 2001.
Here are 20 of the most powerful 9/11 quotes commemorating those we lost and inspiring us all as we continue moving forward.
9/11 quotes on the 21st anniversary of the September 11 attacks
1. "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." — Virgil's Aeneid, which adorns the 9/11 Memorial Museum
2. “If we learn nothing else from this tragedy, we learn that life is short and there is no time for hate.” — Sandy Dahl, wife of Flight 93 pilot Jason Dahl
3. “Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” — Former President Barack Obama
4. “You can be sure that the American spirit will prevail over this tragedy.” — General Colin Powell
5. “For me and my family personally, September 11 was a reminder that life is fleeting, impermanent, and uncertain. Therefore, we must make use of every moment and nurture it with affection, tenderness, beauty, creativity, and laughter.” — Deepak Chopra
6. “True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else.” — Clarence Darrow
7. “What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.” — David Levithan
8. “September 11, 2001, revealed heroism in ordinary people who might have gone through their lives never called upon to demonstrate the extent of their courage.” — Geraldine Brooks
9. “We will win this struggle—not for glory, nor wealth, nor power, but for justice, for freedom, and for peace… so help us God.” — Tom Harkin
10. "Numerous civilians in all stairwells, numerous burn victims are coming down. We're trying to send them down first ... We're still heading up." — Patrick "Paddy" Brown, New York City Fire Department Captain
11. "Why am I here? What is the reason I was saved? They're really unanswerable questions. After going through something like we did, all you can do is try to live your best life from day to day and move forward with gratitude." — Brian Clark, World Trade Center survivor
12. "September 11 is one of our worst days but it brought out the best in us. It unified us as a country and showed our charitable instincts and reminded us of what we stood for and stand for." — Senator Lamar Alexander
13. “It’s the nature of the world that most people have moved on, but the people directly involved with 9/11, for them, twice a day it’s 9/11.” — Robert Reeg, Former FDNY firefighter
14. “I was in New York on September 11 when those planes hit the World Trade Center. At the time, it seemed like it was a local thing. But three or four days later, by the time we drove across the country in the bus, we realized it wasn’t a local thing. You could really feel the states become united. We became the United States of America.” — John Madden
15. “On that terrible day, a nation became a neighborhood, all Americans became New Yorkers.” — George Pataki, former Governor of New York
16. “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” — Former President Harry S. Truman
17. “My older brother John lived [his life] in Technicolor. … When he walked in the door, the whole house lit up. And I’m sure heaven lit up when he got there too.” — Anthoula Katsimatides
18. “All you can do is try to live your best life from day to day and move forward with gratitude.” — Brian Clark
19. “Where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day?” — Alan Jackson
20. "One of the worst days in American history saw some of the bravest acts in American history. We'll always honor the heroes of 9/11. Here at this hallowed place, we pledge that we will never forget their sacrifice." — Former President George W. Bush
21. "The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom." — Former Mayor of New York City Rudolph Giuliani
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Jessica Xing is a writer who covers books, media, and culture.