Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(September 2002)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
In Memoriam.
The eleventh of September, 2002.
It was a year ago today that I wrote the first newsletter
for the Huddersfield One web site, and, as I struggled to
come up with a subject, that very morning, the terrible
terrorist actions against the Twin Towers of New York, the
Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the loss of the four aircraft
and all aboard, flashed from every TV in the nation.
It was indeed a very sad day which will never be forgotten,
not only by the people of the United States but also by
the people of the many countries, who had citizens in residence,
working within the buildings which were attacked, and were
killed in the incident.
Our thoughts go out today, one year later, to the families
who lost loved ones in this dreadful act of terrorism. The
death toll was enormous. All told 3,025 people died as a
result of these terrorist acts, 2,801 at the World Trade
Center location, New York, (including the passengers and
crews on board the two aircraft that crashed into the Twin
Towers), 184 people inside the Pentagon, Washington D.C.,
59 people aboard American Airlines Flight 77 which struck
the Pentagon building, and 40 passengers and crew members
on board United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed on the
outskirts of the quiet rural town of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
In addition to the heroism of the people at the scene,
during and after the crashes, which included police, firefighters,
rescue workers, ordinary citizens and many other nameless
individuals, much credit must be given to the heroism of
the passengers who fought the hijackers on United Flight
93 in an attempt to stop the plane from crashing into its
target.
Memorial Services are being held at each of the sites
and locations throughout the world.
I’m sure that most people of this world recognize
the brutality of this act and send their condolences to
each and every family member, or person, who lost loved
ones in this catastrophic terrorist action. May the dead
rest in peace, and those who remain seek solace in the memory
of the time spent with their loved ones, and remember with
the utmost respect the sacrifices made that terrible day.
Very Sincerely,
Eric (Bill) Sykes. (California).
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