Nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists launched their attacks on the United States killing themselves and 2,973 at the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a farm field in Shanksville, Penn., on Sept. 11, 2001.

The first cowardly attack took place at 8:46 a.m. and the last at 10:03 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The sting of that day still remains in the memory of Americans. Most can tell you where they were when they first heard of the attacks. Many can recall the lockdown of U.S. air traffic. But the names and faces of those killed in these cowardly attacks by Islamic terrorists are fading for most.

The early morning flights originating on the East Coast had 246 passengers on board as well as full fuel tanks as they were hijacked and flown into the respective targets.

During these attacks civilians from 90 different countries were killed when the two passenger airliners struck the north and south towers at the World Trade Center, along with 55 military personnel when a plane struck the Pentagon. Firefighters and police officers also perished in the attack.

An investment bank, Canto Fitzgerald L.P. lost 658 of its employees that day. That was the highest number of employees lost by any company at the World Trade Center. Marsh Inc. lost 335 employees when terror struck over Manhattan.

As Americans, we start this Tuesday, Sept. 11, never having experienced a repeat of the attacks on our nation since that fateful day.

We mourn the loss of those who were killed 11 years ago by those who view our nation as ‘evil.’ Our prayer is for peace in the hearts and minds of those who lost a friend, family member or co-worker.

Keith Hansen