Photo of black smoke emitting from the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001

The Twin Towers in flames on September 11, 2001

Brad Rickerby/Reuters

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A Day to Remember 

Every September 11, people come together to mark one of the saddest days in our nation’s history. On that day in 2001, terrorists took over jets filled with passengers. (Terrorists are people who use violence to spread fear or gain power.) Their goal was to crash the planes into important buildings in the U.S. They flew two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. A third plane hit the Pentagon, the U.S. military headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. 

Nearly 3,000 people died as a result of the attacks. That includes more than 400 firefighters and other first responders.

That day, now known as 9/11, has special meaning for the students at Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary School in Tyler, Texas. Their school is named after someone who died on 9/11. 

Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP Images

On Patriot Day, students at Dr. Bryan C. Jack Elementary honor those who died on 9/11.

Bryan C. Jack was on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. He had worked in the building for more than 20 years, helping to create the U.S. military’s budget. Growing up, Jack had attended school in the Tyler Independent School District. 

When a new elementary school opened in Tyler in 2007, it was named after Jack. Since then, the school has held a ceremony each year on 9/11, also known as Patriot Day. Students lead the event, which celebrates Jack’s life and honors all those who died that day. They invite first responders and military veterans to be part of the ceremony. 

“Our goal is to make sure students understand that their school was named after a leader in our country,” says principal Brett Shelby. “We honor the contributions he made to America.”

What You Need to Know About 9/11

  • A terrorist group called Al Qaeda (ahl KAY-dah) was responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 

  • Shortly after planes were flown into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, a fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Passengers on that flight fought the terrorists and likely prevented an attack on the White House or the U.S. Capitol. 

  • Since 9/11, the U.S. government has taken many steps to make the country safer, including tightening security at airports and in public buildings. 
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