TEXARKANA, Ark. - The fact that 9/11 terrorists conducted the attack with hijacked passenger planes 20 years ago inspired Texarkana Regional Airport Aviation Executive Director Paul Mehrlich to deliver a poignant and positive message Saturday.
Mehrlich, whose presentation was recorded and uploaded on the airport's Facebook page, spoke to a group about 15 to 20 airport employees.
He opened his presentation with facts about the attack and paid a moving tribute to first responders as well as response in general.
"Twenty years today at 8:46 a.m, Eastern Standard Time, American Airlines flight 11 struck the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City," he said. "This plane carried 81 passengers and 11 crew members. Throughout the morning, three other aircraft were also hijacked - United Airlines 175, which struck the World Trade Center's south tower, American Airlines Flight 77, which hit the Pentagon and United Flight 93, which crashed outside Pittsburg Pennsylvania.
"Only 56 minutes after the first impact, the south tower collapsed. In all 2,977 people died that day, creating the deadliest terrorist act in world history. To date over 2,000 more have died with illnesses caused by the attack."
Mehrlich said the country's response to the attack was more revealing than the nature of the attack itself.
"Our country wasn't defined by the acts that occurred that day, but instead by the response to it," he said. "The New York Fire Department response time to 9/11 was five seconds and 343 firefighters along with other emergency personnel died.
"Thousands more poured in to assist and pull survivors from the rubble. They truly earned the right to be called the nation's bravest and finest.
"In the days and weeks that followed, the nation came together. It was as if we, as a nation, looked in the mirror and saw the best that was within us, and we promised that we would never forget the lives of those who were stolen from us - and those who had given their own lives to protect us."
Mehrlich paid tribute to the first responders.
"It is said that the greatest generation were the men and women who fought in World War II , because they sacrificed so much for our freedom and stood in the face of pure evil. However, on 9/11, we saw that you didn't need to be a soldier to be a hero.
"The heroes that day were firemen, policemen, emergency responders and regular people. These included co-workers who stopped to help others in burning buildings and neighbors who dug through the twisted metal - searching for survivors. The passengers on United 93, knowing their fate, took it upon themselves to storm the cockpit of their aircraft to save others' lives."
Mehrlich then said the terrorists' goals wound up having a reverse effect.
"These terrorists tried to destroy us, but instead they discovered that we are indivisible and that we would always fight for liberty and justice for all. Recent events have caused many of us to wonder if the sacrifices made during the last 20 years. were worth it.
"Sine 2001, more the 7,000 American troops have died in the War on Terror. These individuals who fought for freedom, for the person standing next to them and for the liberty of citizens in Afghanistan did so with honor, courage and commitment. For 20 years, we have been able to go to sleep at night knowing someone was out there keeping terror from returning to our shores."
Mehrlich concluded by urging people to thank Transportation Safety Administration staff, law enforcement officers , firefighters, airport staff and armed service members.
"God bless the men and women who stand up for this country every day and God bless America," he said.