VOICEONE:
Last year on September eleventh, more than three-thousand peoplewere killed in terrorist attacks on the United States. It was theworst terrorist attack in American history. I’m Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And I’m Bob Doughty. The UnitedStates after the terrorist attacks is our report today on the VOASpecial English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
Last September eleventh, Islamist terrorists hijacked twopassenger airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in NewYork City. The two giant buildings were destroyed. Another hijackedplane struck and damaged the Defense Department headquarters nearWashington, D.C. Still another hijacked plane crashed nearShanksville, Pennsylvania. The victims included Americans of manyraces and religions. Many foreign citizens also died in the attacks.
Now, a year later, some Americans say life seems normal again.Others say the United States will never be the same again.
VOICE TWO:
Religious services and other programs will observe theanniversary throughout the nation. White House officials helpedorganize a Concert for America. It will be broadcast on televisionWednesday. Many Americans will watch other television programs aboutthe attacks. However, other Americans say they will not observe theanniversary. They say they can best honor the victims by making lifeas normal as possible.
Now, we share some memories of what America was like afterSeptember eleventh, two-thousand-one.
VOICE ONE:
New York City changed forever that day. The attacks destroyed ahuge part of the financial center of the city. Everyone seemed toknow someone who died in the attacks. A young financial worker sayshis office will always seem empty because so many workers werekilled.
Again and again, Americans heard the sounds of bagpipes asmusicians played “Amazing Grace.” The song honored the memory ofthree-hundred-forty-three firefighters and twenty-three policeofficers. They died trying to save people in the World Trade Center.The song also honors more than two-thousand-four-hundred civilianswho did not escape.
((MUSIC))
VOICE TWO:
Near Washington, D-C, people left flowers and messages near oneheavily damaged wall of the Defense Department headquarters. Onehundred-eighty-four military service members and civilians diedthere.
In both target areas, rescue teams worked day and night torecover people and bodies from the wreckage. Some survivors hadterrible burns and crushing injuries. No one survived the planecrash in Pennsylvania.
VOICE ONE:
After the attacks, many Americans prayed. They crowded intoChristian churches, Jewish temples and Islamic mosques. A Protestantclergyman in the state of Maryland said he had never before seen somany people at services.
People across America experienced great shock, fear, sadness andloss. They also felt a renewed love for their country. They putAmerican flags on their houses, cars and businesses. And they sangpatriotic songs like “God Bless America.”
For days after the attacks, most planes stopped flying. Onlymilitary aircraft could be seen in the air. When normal flightsbegan again, many people decided not to travel by air because theywere afraid. The airline and travel industries suffered. Thousandsof hotel workers and others lost their jobs. Many other businessessuffered as well. Financial markets showed major losses.
VOICE TWO:
Thousands of Islamic American citizens, other Arabs and peoplefrom Middle Eastern countries had no connection with terrorism. Butmany reported being insulted or attacked. Some lost their jobs.
In October, the United States began a war against terrorism inAfghanistan. The United States led a coalition against theterrorists and their supporters. The United States defeated theTaleban rulers in Afghanistan and removed them from power. It alsocaptured a number of Taleban fighters and al-Qaida terrorists.
VOICE ONE:
The United States government also seized more than five-hundredforeign citizens and held them in secret. Most of these people hadviolated immigration laws. No terrorism charges were brought againstthem. Human rights activists and some legal experts protested thetreatment of the prisoners. The activists said holding people insecret without trial violates the United States Constitution.
Later, there was some criticism that government agencies did notcooperate to gather intelligence that might have prevented theterrorist attacks. President Bush created a new Office of HomelandSecurity. Its job is to strengthen preparations and defenses againstterrorism.
VOICE TWO:
As time passed, the public learned more about the forty civilianpassengers on the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. Thepassengers found out about the terrorist attacks in New York andWashington. They were killed trying to prevent their plane fromcrashing into another important building.
One of them called out “Let’s roll!” as they tried to regaincontrol of the plane from the terrorists. Americans soon made “Let’sroll!” a common expression.
((MUSIC)) VOICE ONE:
One year later, the nation has taken many steps toward recovery.Still, the events of September eleventh strongly influence ourlives. Many Americans called to military service have returned tocivilian life. A Marine Corps pilot who flew supply planes in theMiddle East says home means more to him now than ever before.
Some Americans whose family members were killed in the attacksare taking legal action. They are trying to recover financialdamages from individuals and banks they believe share responsibilityfor the terrorist attacks. A few families have accepted money fromthe United States government in settlement for the loss of lovedones.
VOICE TWO:
Workers completed the cleanup of the area where the World TradeCenter stood in May. Every day, almost thirty-thousand people visitthe area to see where the attack took place and to honor those whodied there.
Design experts from around the world have proposed plans for newbuildings in the area. There will be a memorial to the victims aswell as a business center.
VOICE ONE:
Mental health experts across the nation have been helping peoplesuffering from sadness and fear after the attacks. Family members ofvictims have attended meetings of support groups to help themrecover from their loss.
Many World Trade Center victims lived in Rockville Centre, NewYork. A family support center there has a special wall for prayersand messages. Children who lost a parent can write their thoughtsand place them on the wall.
Many people around the country were not directly affected by thetragedy. Still, they say their lives have changed. They say they nowspend less time working and more time with their families. They alsosay they telephone family members in other cities more often.
VOICE TWO:
The American economy is showing signs of recovery. However, manypeople have lost savings for their old age. A retired clergyman inthe state of Florida says he and his wife are worried about theireconomic future. The travel industry and related businesses arestill having problems. Many Americans still are driving cars forshort trips instead of flying.
People who do fly say it is much more difficult because ofincreased security at airports. A businesswoman from California mustfly often as part of her job. She says she dislikes waiting insecurity lines that take much longer than they did before Septembereleventh.
VOICE ONE:
For many Americans, daily life continues much as it did beforethe attacks. But people often ask each other where they were onSeptember eleventh.
Marie Reeder lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She knowsexactly what she was doing on that day. She was celebrating hereighty-second birthday with family members. Her birthday had alwaysbeen a happy event. This year, however, it will not be the same.Marie Reeder will celebrate her birthday. But she will also thinkabout what happened to America on September eleventh,two-thousand-one.
((MUSIC))
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced byGeorge Grow. I’m Bob Doughty.
VOICE ONE:
And I’m Mary Tillotson. Join us again next week for anotherreport about life in the United States on the VOA Special Englishprogram, THIS IS AMERICA.