Remembering the Fallen & the Heroes of 9/11 with These Shows & TV Documentaries

I was raised in a patriotic family and brought up to value the country I am fortunate to live in as well as the men and women who fight to give me my freedom. My siblings and I were taught to remember the tragedies our nation has faced, the fallen, and the heroes that emerged. Every year as autumn nears I make a point to remember the grave loss we experienced on September 11^th, 2001 in a personal effort to honor the loved ones that were lost and those who risked everything to lessen the damage.

The Heroes of 9/11

Amidst the death, dust and rubble, countless heroes arose that day and put their own lives on the line for just the small chance of possibly saving another, even a perfect stranger. After the shock of the first crash into the World Trade Center, firemen and civilians alike rushed into the burning building in a fight to save those who were still alive. When the dust began to settle after the collapse of the second tower, regular everyday citizens climbed into the wreckage to search for survivors.

On United Flight 93, which experts believe was headed for the Capitol Building, passengers learned that their plane would soon be used in an attack on American soil. After speaking to their loved ones over air phones, a group of those passengers waited until the plane flew over rural land and rushed the cockpit, willingly giving their lives to save the people on the ground.

These stories capture just a glimpse of the heroes who rose up on September 11^th. Some were firefighters, police and rescue workers trained for emergencies but nothing of this magnitude. Others were civilians who had no responsibility to risk their lives other than the desire to help someone else live.

Shows & TV Documentaries Airing the Weekend of September 11^th, 2010

If you would like to take a few moments to remember 9/11 here are a few television specials and documentaries you might be interested in.

The Flight That Fought Back
Discovery Channel - Saturday, September 11^th, 9 pm Central

"The Discovery Channel revisits the final moments of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Included are interviews with loved ones of those passengers on board, the outcome of the 9/11 Commission Report and voice recordings from the flight. Discover how these heroic men and women put a stop to the terrorists' ultimate plan."

Grounded on 9/11
History Channel - Friday, September 10^th, 7 pm Central

"The FDA orders all planes out of the air after the attack on the World Trade Center."

The Miracle of Stairway B
History Channel - Saturday, September 11^th, 10 am Central

"The collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11^th, 2001 traps 16 survivors."

9/11: As It Happened
MSNBC - Saturday, September 11^th, 5 pm Central

"Coverage of the events of Sept. 11^th as they aired on that day."

102 Minutes That Changed America
History Channel - Saturday, September 11^th, 8 pm Central

"Films, photos and recordings from unique and rarely seen or heard archives chronicle the terrorist attack on New York City's Word Trade Center."

Countdown to Ground Zero
History Channel - Saturday, September 11^th, 3 pm Central

"A chronological look back at the events of September 11^th, 2001."

You can also set your DVR if you would like to see any of these shows airing early in the morning...

Witness 911
National Geographic Channel - Friday, September 9^th, 3 am Central

"Amateur and professional filmmakers capture extraordinary images of the events of Sept. 11^th."

How It Was
National Geographic Channel - Friday, September 9^th, 2 am Central

"Voices of 9/11. Audio recordings capture the words of survivors, firefighters, 911 operators and countless others whose lives were changed by the terrorist assaults of Sept. 11^th."

Inside 9/11: Zero Hour
History Channel - Sunday, September 12^th, 10 am Central

"The horror and heroism of those who died and the thousands of other who survived the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001."

Also airing this weekend is a special episode of America's Most Wanted, profiling a man in connection to the September 11^th attacks and addition plots against America. So far the fugitive has a long history of eluded police. America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back airs on Saturday, September 11^th at 8 pm Central.

Every year as I watch footage from that catastrophic day I see people running down the streets of Lower Manhattan while the towers fall, and later, hundreds of people line the area with photos of missing loved ones. The scenes bring tears to my eyes and pain to my heart every time...but I don't want to forget. My oldest nephew just returned from his second deployment to Iraq. He knows first-hand the price of the freedom we so often take for granted.

Sources:

TV Guide

Discovery Channel Online

History Channel Online