World Trade Center Rises

One World Trade Center
Photo Credit: Associated Press

For the first time in a decade, One World Trade Center towers as the tallest building in New York City. The building reached 1,271 feet yesterday, or "Suck it, Al Qaeda height" as one writer so eloquently stated. When the tower is completed next year it will reach exactly 1,776 feet, in honor of the year of American independence. This will make One World Trade Center the tallest building in America, and the third tallest in the world.

One World Trade Center (Also known as Freedom Tower) is one of many buildings being rebuilt on the site of the original World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001 the fall of the Twin Towers (One and Two World Trade Center) damaged and destroyed many of the surrounding buildings as well. Seven World Trade Center was one of the destroyed buildings, but has been rebuilt and is open for business. The new Seven World Trade Center is, at 52 floors, 5 stories taller than its predecessor, and has already won awards for its environmentally friendly design. Two World Trade Center is under construction alongside its sister tower. The skyscraper will top out at 1,358 feet and incorporates a unique, angled design. The new One and Two World Trade Center Towers are being constructed next to the site of the original Twin Towers. On the original site are two massive water features, one in the footprint of each twin tower. Between the two memorial fountains is a museum, built in honor of the victims and emergency workers of 9/11.

Complete plan of the new World Trade Center Complex
Photo Credit: panynj.com

It has been a decade since the 9/11 attacks. The terrorists that created and executed the attack in 2001, hoped to create fear, terror, among our people. From the day of their attack until now, the American people have proved this goal was not reached. They failed on every level. American architects and construction workers are repairing and rebuilding damaged structures bigger and better than before. American soldiers have hunted down and killed the mastermind behind the attack. Rather than live in fear, American families honor and remember those lost as a result of the attack. On 9/11 itself, average Americans on United Flight 93 refused to be overcome with terror. Passengers retook the plane, and forced it down before it could reach any potential target. Their actions likely saved the lives of many in our nation's capitol.

The best part is, our recovery as a nation from 9/11 is not a one time occurrence. Throughout American history, when our nation is threatened, we somehow always manage to come together and turn what was meant to be devastation into triumph. In 1941, America was in turmoil. We were trying to get back on our feet after the Great Depression, and at the same time our allies abroad were calling for our engagement in the Second World War. These two factors alone helped make politics at the time very messy and full of conflict. (Interestingly, that doesn't sound too far off from the state of things today) On December 7, Japanese forces launched an unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. Thousands of Americans were killed, and the vast majority of American buildings, vessels, and aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Sound similar to the general events of 9/11? The American reaction was also similar. The nation came together. Women went to work in factories for the first time, men and boys with no military background stepped up to defend their country. Workers rebuilt our fleet. Scientists came together to create and discover things that had never been thought possible, including the splitting of an atom. The culmination of that work resulted in the world's first atomic bomb. 

The point is, we refuse to be terrorized. America isn't perfect, we don't have a perfect system, and our people will likely never completely agree on everything, but we refuse to run away in fear. The 9/11 attacks and the years of recovery since emphasize that. 

Terrorists, our enemies, call their dead martyrs. We call ours heroes.

The Manhattan skyline with the World Trade Center Complex completed
Photo Credit: Alex Carter