The heat from the burning fuel reached one thousand degrees.
The nearby steel girders quickly lost their strength.
They began to collapse, to bend and break.
In the towers the weight of the many stories above sank with Gargantuan force.
Both towers collapsed with unbelievable power and speed,
spraying debris and ashes, and huge chunks of concrete and steel
in all directions.
At the Pentagon devastation reigned.
What a tragedy! In New York thousands died,
in Washington hundreds, in Pennsylvania, all 45 on the plane;
the fate of multitudes in the twin towers unknown, only a few escaped.
Rescue crews raced to ground zero,
courageous heros bent on saving those in peril!
Many of these lost their lives.
America was being attacked.
The government and military went on highest alert.
Airports were closed across the nation.
Extensive security measures were put in place.
Many television channels stayed on the air.
The following hours sent shock waves across our nation.
(February 2002)