COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – It was 20 years ago today terrorists crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Life in this country changed forever on September 11, 2001 as the 110 story World Trade Center, the tallest building in the world at the time, collapsed into a gigantic pile of rubble and dust after two hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers.
A third hijacked plane hit the Pentagon while a fourth was heading for the U.S. Capitol but passengers on board fought with hijackers as it crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Nearly 3,000 people died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
Nick Smith represented Branch County in Congress at that time. WTVB’s Jim Measel talked with him in the middle of a chaotic day.
Smith told us what he saw and felt when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.
Almost immediately, tighter security went into effect at government buildings which included the Branch County Courthouse as ordered by then County Administrator Duke Anderson. Today’s security measures at the Courthouse were not in place back then so police cars were stationed outside of the entrances for several days after the attacks. While there were some gas price spikes, Branch County citizens came together and showed their patriotism. Rex Siler of Kinderhook went a step further when he painted an American flag on the side of his two story brick home.
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