Fire Chief Miguel conducts this memorial service every single year on the anniversary of 9/11. Of course not everyone is able to attend. But please, wherever you are this Thursday, do take at least a moment to reflect on the thousands of innocent lives that were so hideously extinguished by terrorists on 9/11/01, and also upon the devastating and lasting impact these mass murders have had on the friends and families of the victims. And if you have children, discuss it with them. It is only by remembering 9/11, and by educating our children about it, that we will be able to prevent anything like this from ever happening again in the United States and/or elsewhere in the world. And if it helps you to understand the events of that day, please feel free to read my first-hand account of the attacks as it appeared in last week's edition of the Pleasanton Weekly: Web Link

9/11 should be a national holiday, similar to "memorial day" to remember this tragic day. Let's start a movement by signing petitions, contact our President and Congress etc. We should have a moment of silence on that day, and fly our flag.

From Wiki....The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th, or 9/11)were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks launched by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda upon the United States in New York City and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. The attacks killed almost 3,000 people and caused at least $10 billion in property and infrastructure damage.

Four passenger airliners were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists so they could be flown into buildings in suicide attacks. Two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Within two hours, both towers collapsed with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the WTC complex, as well as significant damage to ten other large surrounding structures. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense), leading to a partial collapse in its western side. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was targeted at Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers. In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes. It also was the deadliest incident for firefighters and for law enforcement officers in the history of the United States, with 343 and 72 killed respectively.

Suspicion quickly fell on al-Qaeda. Although the group's leader, Osama bin Laden, initially denied any involvement, in 2004, he claimed responsibility for the attacks. Al-Qaeda and bin Laden cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives for the attacks. The United States responded to the attacks by launching the War on Terror and invading Afghanistan to depose the Taliban, which had harbored al-Qaeda. Many countries strengthened their anti-terrorism legislation and expanded law enforcement powers. Having evaded capture for years, bin Laden was located and killed by U.S. forces in May 2011.

The destruction of the Twin Towers and other properties caused serious damage to the economy of Lower Manhattan and had a significant effect on global markets, closing Wall Street until September 17 and the civilian airspace in the U.S. and Canada until September 13. Many closings, evacuations, and cancellations followed the attack, either out of fear of further attacks or respect for the tragedy. Cleanup of the World Trade Center site was completed in May 2002, and the Pentagon was repaired within a year. Numerous memorials have been constructed, including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Pentagon Memorial, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania.

On November 18, 2006, construction of One World Trade Center began at the World Trade Center site. As of September 2013, the new tower's concrete construction was largely complete, and will officially open when the installation of podium glass and interior construction is completed, estimated 2014.

Nan is 100% on target. When I was young, the saying was "Never Forget Pearl Harbor."

By September 11, 2001, things were so bad that four different FBI offices independently reported to the FBI's Terrorism Fusion Center the suspicious "learning to fly but not land" activities. No action was taken, and one agent was actually disciplined for appealing the denial of further investigation.

No one from the Clinton or Bush administrations were held accountable. Lack of accountability in government at all levels must stop.

It is indeed a very memorable day. [Removed because it was irrelevant]

Hey the Cholo finally said something that makes sense.

Hey Cholo, why don't tell us the meaning of the word CHOLO in your native language.

Thanks for listening, Your friend (yea) Julia Pardini from Alamo

Stop and Think, why would anyone from the Clinton administration have been held accountable? Clinton informed Bush and his admin that the biggest threat to US was Mideast-based terrorism. Bush and company chose to ignore and focus instead on Russia. No one from the Clinton administration turned away agents from the Crawford ranch days before the attack, telling them that "they had covered their asses" and to return to Washington. No one from the Clinton administration received a report that an attack, using hi-jacked airlines, was imminent within a matter of days or weeks. So why the felt need to bring Clinton into the equation? The attack occurred under Bush's watch; he and his people has been warned repeatedly; they dropped the ball; then they lied and deflected in order to protect themselves.

Historian,

Didn't slick willie himself say a few weeks ago that he new what a threat USB was and could have killed him but chose not to?

That is fact. He did a bad job and people died.

Come to think of it didn't the USA Cole bombing and the first World Trade Center bombing happen with Inton as President?

Leftist 'Historian' is typical of liberal academics who try to rewrite/reshape history to support their agenda or their ideology. I can only imagine the glowing praise they will create out of thin air years from now when obama goes back to community agitating in Chicago (provided he actually leaves the golf course for a few minutes).

I agree that the attack on the WTC HAPPENED on the Bush watch...what a laugh!

what's her name beCAME a BILLIONAIRE MANY TIMES OVER!

BUSTED!

We should never forget. The newscast films should be shown so the reality of the crashes are never forgotten. "political Correctness' is highly Inappropriate on September 11 of any year!

I believe that however tragic the WTC bombings, that the Westward movement was a more tragic event. It resulted in the GENOCIDE of millions of native american inhabitants. Slavery, and Denying Women the Right to Vote were also horrific events. Little attention is paid to American history.

I appreciate citizens wanting to remember September 11, I do not plan to celebrate on that day.

I plan to hang out with a few seniors in SF, exercise at the J, and return home for a wonderful bowl of clam chowder soup and a tossed green salad.