WASHINGTON – Tuesday, September 11, 2001; another day which may live in infamy.

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

WASHINGTON – Tuesday, September 11, 2001; another day which may live in infamy.

”The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake, we will show the world that we will pass this test,” President Bush said speaking from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana hours after the terrorist attacks riveted the nation.

A chain reaction of attacks on the United States started in New York with two commercial airplanes crashing into both towers of the World Trade Center. Soon after, the nation’s capital fell under attack with an airplane crashing into the Pentagon and a car bomb detonating at the State Department.

Congressman Ted Strickland, calling from a cellular phone, is currently in Washington and said federal employees poured out of federal buildings in an orderly manner with police officers quickly moving people away from the federal buildings.

Strickland said, "a national tragedy occurred today" and his "thoughts and prayers" are with the families and victims of this morning’s "senseless attack."

Strickland called today’s attacks a "terrorists declaration of war." He said the United States has the responsibility to "track down," and severely "punish" whomever is responsible for the attacks.

Strickland said it is imperative for the U.S. government to "leave no stone unturned," in its efforts to track down whomever is responsible and "punish as severely as humanly possible."

The congressman said "(this was an) attack on what we believe…what we stand for…without regard to innocent human life."

Strickland called today’s attack a "tragedy beyond description."

FBI agent Ed Boldt spokesman for the Bureau in Cincinnati said security has been tightened and training programs scheduled for this week has been canceled. He said agents from the Cincinnati bureau may be called for a temporary assignment in the attacked cities. He said the Bureau hasn’t received any information that cities in this area are targeted for attack.

Guido Papa, a resident of Union, New Jersey, which is within a 45 minute commute from New York, said people in that area is in a state of shock.

Papa said he was serving on jury duty this morning when the news came across the television. "Our mouths fell open," Papa said, "there was just a numbness." Papa said police in that area are taking preventive security measures such as protecting the courthouse and city hall.

He said members of the community is affected by the attack. Papa said a neighbor’s son works at the Trade Center. He later received word is son was out of harm’s way when the attack began.