On the Anniversary of 9/11, Remember the Heroes with These Inspirational Facts

On 9/11, the world changed. On that day, we lost an estimated three thousand people and our way of life was forever altered. During this anniversary year, it's important to remember the heroes who helped us through those dark days. Here are just a few facts about them:

343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers were killed on 9/11.

As you remember the heroes of 9/11, remember that 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers were killed while trying to save lives. This number includes the firefighters who died at the World Trade Center towers, as well as a group of NYPD officers who were killed when their helicopter crashed into the roof of one of New York City's tallest buildings.

These 414 people are among those we can never forget. They gave up their lives for others, putting themselves in danger so that others might live. Let us never forget them!

A total of 2,977 people died that day.

On September 11, 2001, 19 men hijacked four planes and destroyed them in a coordinated attack on the United States. A total of 2,977 people died in the attacks that day - not counting the 19 hijackers themselves.

In addition to those on board the four planes (including one who was forced to stay behind for medical reasons), there were also victims at several locations: The Pentagon (184); Pennsylvania (40); and New York City (2,752).

There were roughly 266 million people living in the U.S. in 2001.

The United States is a nation of people. We are 320,000,000 strong. That's a lot of people to keep track of, but the good news is that they're all unique individuals with their own stories.

As you walk around your neighborhood or city today, pay attention to the faces around you - not just on 9/11 but every day. You never know what someone else might have been through in their life; it could be something as simple as surviving cancer or going through a divorce that shaped them into who they are today. It could also be something more serious like losing loved ones in war or experiencing trauma from an assault or accident. But whatever it was that happened in their past, there's no doubt that it has made them stronger than ever before and given them an incredible perspective on life itself!

Nearly two-thirds of the firefighters who responded to the attack on 9/11 were volunteers.

The most important fact about firefighters you need to remember is that they are volunteers. They work for free, and often risk their lives for the people of their communities. The average salary for a firefighter is around $55,000 (which is still less than what I make in my part-time job).

On 9/11, nearly two-thirds of the firefighters who responded to the attack on 9/11 were volunteers. These men and women are trained specifically to respond to emergencies and dangerous situations like fires, floods or earthquakes. They are first responders - the people who run into burning buildings without being told because they know it's the right thing to do; this is why they work so hard every day at their jobs knowing that one day something terrible might happen but no matter what happens they will always be there in your time of need - your hero!

1,000,000+ books have been written, with 100 new ones being published every year.

The importance of books to the 9/11 legacy cannot be understated. Thousands of books have been written about September 11th, each one bringing a different perspective to bear on what has become an iconic moment in history. From memoirs by those who lived through it, first-hand accounts from firefighters and police officers who responded to the attacks at ground zero, political analysis of how 9/11 changed America's role in the world - there is something for everyone among this enormous body of work. And because many of these texts are deeply personal accounts by people who experienced such traumatic events firsthand, they're especially powerful reminders that we should never forget what happened 17 years ago today: even if they're not always pleasant or easy to read or watch (and some definitely aren't), these stories remind us that every life matters.

The first plane to crash into the World Trace Center did so at 8:46 a.m., but some passengers sent text messages during the final moments of their lives.

Another shocking fact is that some passengers were able to send text messages during the final moments of their lives. This means that they were able to communicate with loved ones even as they knew they were going to die.

The first plane to crash into the World Trace Center did so at 8:46 a.m., but some passengers sent text messages during the final moments of their lives. They were able to call home and speak with loved ones - or even call 911 - and tell them exactly what was happening before their phones fell silent forever. It's an amazing thing for those family members who received these texts; not only was it a reminder of how precious life truly is, but it also gave them comfort knowing that their loved one had remained calm in such an awful situation and had found peace in knowing there was nothing left for them here on Earth.

Almost 3,000 children lost a parent on 9/11 according to Mental Health America.

• Almost 3,000 children lost a parent on 9/11 according to Mental Health America.
• This means that 1 in 5 children who attended school that day lost a parent, and at least 8% of all Americans were affected by this tragedy.
• At least 1,000 children were living near ground zero when the towers fell; many others were attending school or visiting friends and family when the attacks occurred. In addition to those directly impacted by 9/11 itself, there were thousands more who lost loved ones in other tragic events that happened during that week: The Pentagon plane crash and Flight 93's crash into Pennsylvania (which was initially thought to be another terrorist attack).

Today we remember and honor those we lost on 9/11

Today we remember and honor those we lost on 9/11, as we do every year. But this time, with the 18th anniversary of the attacks, it feels especially important to be reminded of some of the many things that have happened since then. Today is a day to be happy for those who have survived and thrived in their lives afterwards; to be thankful for our freedom; to cherish our moments with family and friends; and most importantly, it's a time to celebrate all that we've gained over these years.

Conclusion

We're all familiar with the iconic images of 9/11: the planes crashing into the Twin Towers and their subsequent disintegration. But there were many other images that day - familiar ones from our everyday lives, now made tragically different by these events. The firefighters who rushed to help when they heard about the attacks, the police officers descending into chaos and danger in order to save lives. These people were heroes, every one of them. They reminded us of what it means to be human by seeing beyond our own interests or concerns and doing what needs doing when no one else will or can do it for them. We honor their memory today on this anniversary as well as throughout each year since 2001