It's been sixteen years since the September 11th terrorist attacks occurred in New York, but the families of those who passed have been forever changed. Today, the dead are remembered by the ones they left behind, and over one thousand family members, survivors, and rescuers congregated at the World Trade Center for a memorial service. The ceremony was said to have begun with a moment of silence, and afterward, relatives of the deceased began to read off a list of each of the three thousand victims lost in the attack.
While America hasn't exactly been a united front as of late, many in attendance felt that the country could draw strength from the experience. A woman named Magaly Lemagne implored for unity, telling NBC News stating how "Our country came together that day. And it did not matter what color you were, or where you were from...Maybe then we can put away our disagreements and become one country again."
The harrowing day was a traumatic incident in American history, when terrorist piloted planes struck the World Trade Center, and kicked off the oft-debated "war on terror," the effects of which are still being felt today. Former President Barack Obama tweeted a statement in commemoration, and while President Trump was uncharacteristically quiet on Twitter, he did make a statement at the memorial service:
While September 11th holds a wide spectrum of significance for many different people, the day also marks a few hip-hop milestones. Jay-Z's classic The Blueprint actually came out on September 11th, 2001, and both Kanye West's Graduation and 50 Cent's Curtis went head-to-head September 11th, 2007. The day also marks Ludacris' birthday, so happy birthday Luda!
In honor of the tragedy, take a second to pay some respect to those who lost their lives, and the brave men and women who stepped up to make a difference.