The following essay was written as a school newspaper report assignment by the seventh grade daughter of a good friend. I wanted to print it because I think it's good reporting and I wanted a document at Lonely Goat Central which would help us not to forget the inhumanity of September 11. These are the facts from that day. I can flash back to each moment when I read this.

I can remember writing my papers about saving Cape Hatteras back in seventh grade. Everything has changed. It seems to me that every group of kids that moves through their teens together can single out an undercurrent that started to form as they were growing up. Because of this, the group learns to accept new things as normal long before the old folks get it. It's just what they become used to first. We, humanKind, must not let the teenagers of today get 'used' to terrorism. - ed.

A DISASTER NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN
by Brandii Shay Campbell
Dateline: September 12, 2001

Terrorist are to blame for the worst event in our nation's history, an event bigger than Pearl Harbor.

Early morning, September 11,2001, a huge hole is made in one of the World Trade Center towers, putting it aflame. A large, possibly hijacked airliner caused this horrific event. About fifteen minutes to eighteen minutes later, a second hijacked airliner crashed through the middle of the other one hundred, ten story World Trade Center tower. These mass destructions left the borough city of Manhattan, New York in devastation.

For the first time in U.S. history, a halt was put on all nationwide air flight transportation by the F.A.A.. All airplanes were grounded at the nearest airport until further notice.

Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., a third aircraft plunges into the Pentagon. This caused a huge cloud of smoke to rise up in the air. Shortly after, news was received that part of the Pentagon had gave way and collapsed.

At the same time in Sumerset County,Pennsylvania, flight ninety-three of United Airlines crashed to the ground and created a giant crater in the earth.

From the top, as if being stripped apart, the World Trade Center's North tower crashes to the ground. Minutes later, the second of the "twins" tumble into a heap of debris onto the ground. It was later confirmed that flight eleven was the airliner that slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, and American Airlines reported of two lost aircrafts.

"Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts!",said President George W. Bush while at Barks-dale Airforce base.

Not long after, the city of Washington declares a state of emergency.

The Pentagon has sent word that five warships and two aircraft carriers will leave the U.S. Naval station in Norfolk, V.A.. This is being done to protect the east coast from further attack while also reducing the number of ships in port. The USS George Washington and the USS John F. Kennedy which are carriers were dispatched to the N.Y. coast. Other frigates and missile destroyers capable of shooting down aircrafts are headed to sea.

Mayor Giuliani is now saying that the number on New York City's critically injured is up to 200, and the total of injuries reported are 2,100.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, the forty-seven story, Building Seven of the World Trade Center complex is reported on fire. About an hour and a half later, Building Seven falls to the ground in an overly large cloud of dust.

John King, CNN senior White House correspondent says that officials confirm that the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania could have been planned to crash at one of three possible places: Camp David, the White House or the U.S. Capital building.

Not to long after, the N.Y. police department releases word that at least seventy-eight officers are missing. They also say that about half of the original four hundred firefighters were killed.

Now the victims of this horrific, astronomical event ask for your support and prayer for themselves and their loved ones as clean-up begins.