Patriot Day Event in Front Royal Honors 9/11 Victims and Heroes

On a solemn Patriot Day, Skip Rogers, founder of the Able Forces Foundation, led a moving ceremony at the downtown Gazebo to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Community members gathered to reflect on the day that changed the nation, honoring the victims, heroes, and the enduring spirit of unity.

Rogers opened the event by inviting everyone to join the Pledge of Allegiance, a tradition he recalled from childhood. “I think very few schools do that now,” Rogers noted. “I believe there are a lot of children who don’t even know what it is.” With hands over hearts, the attendees faced the flag and recited the pledge, setting the tone for a day of remembrance and reflection.

A Timeline of Remembrance

Rogers then guided the audience through a timeline of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, offering personal reflections and poignant moments to honor the lives lost and the bravery shown.

• 5:45 AM – Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz al-Omari, two hijackers, pass through security at Portland International Jetport in Maine. They board a commuter flight to Boston Logan International Airport and then board American Airlines Flight 11.
• 7:59 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 takes off from Boston, headed for Los Angeles, California. There are 76 passengers, 11 crew members, and five hijackers on board.
• 8:15 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 takes off from Boston, headed for Los Angeles. There are 51 passengers, nine crew members, and five hijackers on board.
• 8:19 AM – A flight attendant on Flight 11, Betty Ann Ong, alerts ground personnel that a hijacking is underway and that the cockpit is unreachable.
• 8:20 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 takes off from Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, headed for Los Angeles. There are 53 passengers, six crew members, and five hijackers on board.
• 8:24 AM – Mohamed Atta, a hijacker on Flight 11, unintentionally alerts air controllers in Boston to the attack when he mistakenly transmits over the radio.
• 8:37 AM – Boston air traffic control alerts the US Air Force’s Northeast Defense Sector after hearing the broadcast from Atta on Flight 11. The Air National Guard is mobilized to follow the plane.
• 8:42 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 takes off from Newark, New Jersey, after a delay due to routine traffic. It is headed for San Francisco, California, with 33 passengers, seven crew members, and four hijackers on board.
• 8:46 AM – American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. All passengers aboard are instantly killed, and employees in the building are trapped above the 91st floor.  (Fire Department Battalion Chief Zach Burrows rings the bell)
• 9:03 AM – United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the World Trade Center South Tower. All passengers aboard are killed instantly, along with an unknown number of people in the tower. (Front Royal Chief of Police Kahle Magalis rings the bell)
• 9:05 AM – President George W. Bush, while in an elementary school classroom in Florida, is informed about the second tower being hit. His chief of staff, Andrew Card, whispers the news in his ear. Bush later reflects on his decision to project calm in front of the children.
• 9:28 AM – Hijackers attack Flight 93, seizing control of the cockpit.
• 9:37 AM – American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, killing all passengers on board and 189 people inside the building, including 55 military members and 70 civilians.
  (Jim Justice rings the bell)
• 9:45 AM – US airspace is shut down under Operation Yellow Ribbon, and all civilian aircraft are ordered to land at the nearest airport.
• 9:55 AM – Air Force One, with President George W. Bush aboard, takes off from Florida.
• 9:57 AM – Passengers aboard Flight 93 attempt to retake the cockpit. The hijacker pilot, Jarrah, rolls the plane back and forth in an attempt to destabilize their revolt.
• 9:59 AM – The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
• 10:02 AM – United Airlines Flight 93 crashes into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The intended target was likely the White House or the US Capitol.
  (Patrick “Little Wolf” and his wife Ashliegh ring bell)
• 10:18 AM – President Bush authorizes the military to shoot down any non-grounded planes. At this time, all four hijacked planes have already crashed, but officials mistakenly believe Flight 93 is still in the air.
• 10:28 AM – The North Tower of the World Trade Center collapses.
• 10:53 AM – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld orders the US military to move to DEFCON 3, a heightened state of alert.
• 11:45 AM – Air Force One lands at Barksdale Air Force Base near Shreveport, Louisiana.
• 12:15 PM – All airspace in the United States is completely cleared of commercial and private flights.
• 1:30 PM – Air Force One departs Barksdale Air Force Base.
• 2:30 PM – Rudy Giuliani, the mayor of New York City, visits Ground Zero, the site of the fallen Twin Towers, with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
• 3:00 PM – Air Force One lands at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, where President Bush is taken to a secure bunker designed to withstand a nuclear attack.
• 4:30 PM – Air Force One departs Offutt and returns to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC.
• 5:30 PM – World Trade Center Building 7 collapses.
• 8:30 PM – President Bush addresses the nation from the Oval Office.

Rogers emphasized that these events marked an assault on American democracy and freedom. “We must remember the thousands who died that day,” he said. “We must remember the thousands more injured and those who have carried the scars of that day ever since.”

Personal Reflections: Where Were You?

Chief Kahle Magalis of Front Royal Police Department spoke about his experience: “That morning, I was working as a school resource officer. When the first plane hit, we thought it was a terrible accident. But when the second plane hit, we knew things were not good. The feeling was indescribable. We all rushed to keep the children and staff calm while watching the events unfold on live TV.”

Rogers continued, “I was working with a company in D.C. when we heard about the plane crash in New York. I remember the chaos, the rumors of bombs, and the bridges being closed. It was the first time I truly felt our nation’s vulnerability.”

Skip Rogers shows children information on 9-11 event

A Call to Teach Future Generations

Rogers stressed the importance of teaching younger generations about the events of 9/11. “We have a generation now that wasn’t even born then,” he said. “They may only know that their mom or dad was hurt during the war. It’s up to us to teach them about what happened and why we say, ‘Never Forget.'”

He concluded with a quote that encapsulated the day’s message: “Let us remember that our strength comes from our unity, our resilience, and our commitment to never forget. We honor the lives lost, the heroes who emerged, and the spirit of a nation that stood tall in its darkest hour. May we always remember and teach future generations the true meaning of courage, sacrifice, and freedom.”

Honoring the Heroes and the Fallen

The ceremony continued with a focus on the heroism of first responders, military personnel, medical staff, and everyday Americans who showed extraordinary bravery. Rogers reminded the crowd of the many sacrifices made: “We must remember the courage of those who faced unimaginable terror with bravery and selflessness.”

Remembering the Legacy

As the event drew to a close, Rogers encouraged ongoing remembrance and reflection, urging everyone to “teach our children well.” He spoke of the continued need for unity and patriotism, hoping that events like this would keep the spirit alive: “We need that patriotic spirit back because we need it now more than ever.”

The Patriot Day event in Front Royal served as a powerful reminder of the events of September 11, 2001, and the importance of remembering, honoring, and teaching future generations about the day that forever changed America.

September 11, 2001: Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks – President George W. Bush

Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices; secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed; our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government’s emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it’s prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C. to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight, and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business, as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I’ve directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night, and God bless America.