Project 4 Storytelling:
911
It seemed to be a day like each other.
But 9 11 2001 changed the world.
Islamists kidnapped 2 passenger jets and flew into the World Trade Center,
a 3rd machine crashed into the Pentagon and a 4th crashed onto an acre in Pennsylvania.
People all over the world watched the collapse of the 2 towers and
the entire catastrophes on TV.
About 3000 people lost their lifes.
Nobody will ever forget what happened.
Mr. Toastmaster of the evening, fellow Toastmasters, most honored guests:
A nightmare 13 years ago which became a dark chapter in our history.
Today, we think of the victims and their families.
I’d like to remeber by giving a speech and
by telling you some stories and facts I found on the internet.
Sad stories and facts about the 4 flights:
(1) American Airlines, flight 11
(2) United Airlines, flight 175
(3) American Airlines, flight 77
(4) United Airlines, flight 93
After that I’m going to say some sentences to our youngest history
and finally, I’d like to close with some personal thoughts.
Now, let’s start with the 4 sad stories:
(1) The 1. catastrophe: American Airlines, flight 11
The plane started at 7:59 in Boston. Terrorist Attah was on board. On it’s way to LA
suddenly an emergency call reached Fort Worth in Texas. A stewardess was
grasping for breath and she said that 2 of her colleagues were killed, a third one was
ventilated and that two people’s throat were cut through. Then the radio contact was
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interrupted. Flight 11 crashed into the Northern Tower of the World Trade Center and
mowed through floor 93 to 99.
(2) The 2nd catastrophe: United Airlines, flight 175
Shortly after flight 11 had left Boston, flight 175 took off to LA. Again a flight attendant
gave the info about the kidnapping, now to the Airline.
The crew was killed. A stewardes was stabbed to death. Passengers were allowed to
call their loved ones. So did passenger Brian Sweeny. He left a message for his wife
at the answering machine. He said:
I’m sitting in a plane which has been kidnapped. It is not looking well!
I just wanted to let you know that I love you and that I hope to see you again. If not
please, enjoy your life!
Flight 175 crashed into the Southern Tower of the World Trade Center, floor 77 to 85.
(3) The 3rd catatstrophe: American Airlines, flight 77
The machine was kidnapped on it’s way from Washington to Los Angeles.
Passenger Tod Beamer talked to his wife. But suddenly she couldn’t hear him
anymore, she just heard passengers praying the Lord Prayers. After that: silence, and
then a voice was asking: Are you ready? Let‘s roll.
Screaming people and wind noises were following.
The plane crashed into the Pentagon. 64 passengers and 125 people int the building
passed away immediatly.
(4) The 4th catastrophe: United Airlines, flight 93
The plane was kidnapped by terrorist Ziad Jarrah.
Tom Burnet, a manager of a technology company told his wife that passengers
wanted to try to prohibit a crash.
In fact, there must have been a fight on board: A voice recorder recorded banes and
screams in Arabish and in English.
The plane crashed onto an acre close to Shanksville in Pennsylvania.
Nobody survived.
Both towers were still burning when the planes of flight 77 and 99 crashed down.
We all remember the horrible pictures when people sprang out of the windows of the towers.
They fled from the heat. The fire had more than 1000 degrees.
It took about an hour till the towers collapsed.
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A humanitarian catastrophe with an enormous economical impact.
This year -13 years later- the One World Trade Center opened it’s doors at Ground Zero.
It’s the highest skyscrapper in the western hemisphere with ist 541 metres.
A sign of strength which shows the evidence of economical force.
In some people’s eyes also a sign of weakness because of all the discussions
about the last resting place of human remains which couldn’t be identified by today.
However you think about, we should keep in mind that the One World Trade Center is a
memorial that reminds us of our tasks as an international community.
Fellow Toastmasters, most honoured guests.
History can’t be changed.
But history must teach us.
It must teach us that extremism and thoughless tolerance can just lead into a disaster.
International friendship showed us the way in the past 13 years.
Let’s continue

in taking care of friendship, of diversity and of cultural acceptance and
Let’s continue

in taking care of freedom, peace, health and wealth without falling into extremism.
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