America observes September 11 as Patriot Day each year to commemorate the lives lost on September 11, 2001, due to the terrorist attacks in our country. On December 18, 2001, the United States Congress made a joint resolution to make September 11 a national holiday. When the terrorists hijacked our countries’ airlines to attack New York City, New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, our nation was on high alert. The resolution calls for the president of the United States to make a proclamation requesting all flags in the country to fly at half-staff.
In New York City, New York, terrorists hijacked two airlines to cut into the Twin Towers, known as the World Trade Center, claiming about 2,753 lives when they collapsed, according to the website www.britannica.com. I thank God that New York City rebuilt the twin towers that the terrorists destroyed, and I pray that the Spirit of Jesus touches the new buildings from future attacks of terrorism, for David says in Psalm 61:3 that the Lord is a strong tower against the foe (New International Version).
In Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., another hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon, a five-sided building containing the United States Department of Defense and the offices of the branches of the United States Armed Forces, claiming a total of 184 lives: 125 people in the Pentagon and 64 people on the plane, according to www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Experience/Pentagon-Memorial/. According to www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_Renovation_Program, the United States Department of Defense created a program under the Pentagon Renovation program called the Phoenix Project to rebuild the Pentagon less than a year after the terrorist destroyed it. I pray that God will provide for our nation’s Pentagon, for He said in Isaiah 54:16 in the New Living Translation that He makes the weapons of destruction and created the armies that destroy. Hence, no weapon turned against us will succeed–in the coming day of terrorism—emphasis added.
The terrorists on the last plane intended to attack Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, but they were unable to accomplish their plan because the passengers and the crew on the aircraft, while forced to the back of the plane by the terrorists, developed a strategy to report the hijacking by using the air phones on the plane and using the cockpit voice recorder to capture sounds of their struggles, such as shouts, screams, calls to action, and sounds of breaking glassware. To prevent the passengers from regaining control of the plane, the terrorists decided to crash the aircraft on a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, claiming 40 lives, according to www.nps.gov/flni/learn/historyculture/flight93story.htm.
According to www.dhs.gov/counter-terrorism-and-homeland-security-threats, the United States Department of Homeland Security has services that detect and disrupt threats of terrorism in our nation, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, and Headquarters Support Components. I pray that God will strengthen our homeland security services with His divine power, wisdom, and knowledge each day to prevent future terrorism in our country.
I pray that United States citizens observe Patriot Day to pray for God’s protection of our nation, for He prophesied in Isaiah 54:14 that we will live in peace by being under a secure government where our enemies will stay far away. No terror will come near (New Living Translation).
On Patriot Day, I pray to God, asking Him to provide tighter security for all our passengers on planes, for Psalms 91:3-4 says the Lord shall deliver us from the snares of the fowler by covering us with his feathers under His wings, where we shall take refuge (New King James Version).
I pray that God will give the residents of New York, New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, solace, grace, and strength as they commemorate and mourn the loss of their families, coworkers, and neighbors each year on Patriot Day.—Kenneth Sullivan.