Tomorrow, we commemorate the 21st anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, in which at least 16 members of our diocesan family lost their lives. It is a tradition—established by a resolution passed at our 2004 diocesan convention and reaffirmed every year—that our churches observe the “Six Moments of Silence” corresponding with key events on that terrible morning.
Observing the Six Moments of Silence
- At 8:46 a.m., on September 11, 2001, hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the upper portion of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York.
- At 9:03 a.m., hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
- At 9:37 a.m., the west wall of the Pentagon was hit by hijacked American Airlines Flight 77, the impact of which caused immediate and catastrophic damage to the headquarters of the Department of Defense.
- At 9:59 a.m., the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.
- At 10:03 a.m., the passengers and crew of hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 acted heroically to retake control of the airplane and thwart the taking of additional American lives by crashing the airliner in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and, in doing so, gave their lives to save countless others.
- 10:29 a.m., the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed
Bishop Stokes asks all churches and all people of the diocese to be mindful of these moments during our Sunday morning worship.
