it has been 23 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 which completely transformed both New York City and the country Al-Qaeda hijackers smashed four jetliners into the Pentagon a field in Southwest Pennsylvania and the Twin Towers killing close to 3,000 people 6 minutes of silence were observed during the service to Mark the moments when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania when the Pentagon was attacked and when each of the towers was struck and brought down