Manassas and Prince William County will join communities across the country Friday in marking 25 years since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, at the Pentagon in Arlington and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Prince William County lost 22 residents that day, including 19 at the Pentagon and three at the World Trade Center.
2-MINUTE BRIEF
WHAT HAPPENED: On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four passenger airplanes. Two struck the World Trade Center, one struck the Pentagon and another crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew attempted to regain control.
LOCAL LOSS: Twenty-two Prince William County residents were killed.
LOCAL RESPONSE: Fire, rescue, police and emergency personnel from across Northern Virginia supported the Pentagon response and helped maintain emergency coverage across the region.
TODAY: Sept. 11 is observed each year as a day of remembrance for those who were killed and those who responded.
Prince William County’s Loss
The 22 Prince William County residents killed on Sept. 11 were:
John J. Chada
Jamie L. Fallon
Amelia V. Fields
Robert J. Hymel
Lacey B. Ivory
Judith L. Jones
David W. Laychak
James T. Lynch Jr.
Gene E. Maloy
Robert J. Maxwell
Molly L. McKenzie
Craig J. Miller
Diana B. Padro
Rhonda S. Rasmussen
Edward V. Rowenhorst
Judy Rowlett
Donald D. Simmons
Jeff L. Simpson
Cheryle D. Sincock
Gregg H. Smallwood
Larry L. Strickland
Sandra L. White
Their names are memorialized at the Prince William County Liberty Memorial near the McCoart Government Center.
Northern Virginia Responded
When American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon, emergency agencies from across Northern Virginia joined the response.
Prince William County fire, rescue and police personnel were among those supporting the regional effort. Local crews also helped maintain emergency coverage while neighboring departments sent resources to Arlington.
The response continued beyond the first day as agencies worked together at the Pentagon and across the region.
Twenty-Five Years Later
For many who lived through Sept. 11, memories of that day remain vivid.
The attacks brought extraordinary loss, fear and uncertainty. They also brought people together. Neighbors checked on one another, first responders worked across jurisdictional lines, families gathered, churches opened their doors and people looked for ways to help.
In Northern Virginia, the tragedy was especially close to home. The attack on the Pentagon brought Sept. 11 directly into this region, and local emergency personnel became part of the response.
Following Friday night’s shooting in Old Town Manassas, one parent said the experience brought back the feeling of the day after Sept. 11 and how clearly she remembered where she had been.
The tragedies were different, but in both moments the community faced sudden loss and responded by coming together, supporting grieving families and caring for one another.
In Manassas this week, residents attended vigils, left flowers and messages, comforted young people and supported a grieving family.
Twenty-five years later, Sept. 11 remains a day of profound loss and remembrance. For our community, it is also a reminder of those we lost, those who answered the call to serve, and the way people came together in the face of tragedy.
Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael W. Pendergrass.
