0:00:18 > 0:00:21Birthdays are fun.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25But what if your birthday happens on the saddest day in the world?
0:00:25 > 0:00:30And you can't celebrate it like everyone else.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34First time I found out, I was probably in, maybe, first grade.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Some kid said, "Oh, that's your birthday? Well, that's a bad day."
0:00:37 > 0:00:40I was like, "Oh?"
0:00:41 > 0:00:44What if you were asked to take part in important events
0:00:44 > 0:00:47and felt a responsibility for the future?
0:00:47 > 0:00:52It is importantly special, it is one of the biggest things in history.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01'I've got people coming out from all sides of the building!'
0:01:01 > 0:01:06Just over 10 years ago, a terrible thing happened.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10On September 11th 2001, terrorists hijacked four aeroplanes
0:01:10 > 0:01:13and attacked America.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15That day became known as 9/11,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19because it took place on the 11th day of the ninth month.
0:01:19 > 0:01:233,000 people from 70 different nationalities
0:01:23 > 0:01:25sadly died in the attacks.
0:01:29 > 0:01:34Introducing Anish, Johnny, Lexi, Bryce and Colby.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Five American children who were born on that day.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40They know just what it's like having a birthday on a day
0:01:40 > 0:01:43when no one feels like being happy.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51My name is Anish, and I live in Daretown, New Jersey,
0:01:51 > 0:01:53with my mom and my dad and my sister.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58There's a farm in front of our house which is having a fair
0:01:58 > 0:02:02and my mom and my dad and my sister are coming here for pumpkin picking.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04OK, they are very heavy!
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Oh! OK!
0:02:09 > 0:02:14I'm picking one that is nice and big, and not that heavy.
0:02:14 > 0:02:19Anish's story begins a few days before his birthday.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23We went to the World Trade Center,
0:02:23 > 0:02:28the place where the Twin Towers used to be, before they were attacked.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33We were invited to a special event for the kids that were born on 9/11.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36When they were built, the Twin Towers,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39which were also known as the World Trade Center,
0:02:39 > 0:02:45were the tallest buildings in the world, each over 100 storeys high.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57From the window we could see the place
0:02:57 > 0:02:59where the Twin Towers used to be.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05What we heard on the headphones was really scary stuff.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09Stories about people that were in the Twin Towers.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Some people who were going to the Twin Towers but then didn't,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14because they heard about this.
0:03:16 > 0:03:17This is basically what happened...
0:03:18 > 0:03:21Two terrorists entered the plane, and,
0:03:21 > 0:03:23since they had gone to airplane school,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25they were able to fly the plane.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29When they found the World Trade Center, they just went down.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33They crashed right into the side of it.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37There was a humungous hole. Everyone in that plane had died,
0:03:37 > 0:03:42inside the building, most of them in that floor had died, too.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47The remaining people felt like, "Woah!"
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and then the firefighters came
0:03:49 > 0:03:52and then they started saving a lot of people.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Shortly later, the North Tower fell down, then,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58after that, the South Tower just fell down.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04I actually went to the site of the World Trade Center,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and there was a memorial built over it.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10They had the names of all the people who had died.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15A lot of firemen died, too.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23Many heroic firemen lost their lives that day saving others.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Actually, Anish is a hero too.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32We'll find out later whose life he saved.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Bryce! Colby!
0:04:45 > 0:04:48His hair is not up like mine, I look better than him.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50He has a diff...
0:04:50 > 0:04:54He is really, really sensitive about his hair. Watch this.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Twins Bryce and Colby
0:04:56 > 0:04:59really should be having a double whammy of a party,
0:04:59 > 0:05:01but not all their friends
0:05:01 > 0:05:04think that it's a good idea to celebrate on this day.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15I think he should change his birthday.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18My mom and my dad were right there watching it
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and I still have the newspaper of it so it kind of offends me.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25I think that Luke is trying to be funny.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27ALL: No, he's not.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29I think he's just kind of over-reacting
0:05:29 > 0:05:32a bit about someone's birthday being on 9/11.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37I think that Bryce should keep his birthday on 9/11
0:05:37 > 0:05:40because first of all, it's kind of special to be born
0:05:40 > 0:05:42and especially because he's a twin,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44not many twins are born on that day.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48You could think about all the good things that have happened.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56Could really use my bishop, now.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00You probably have a trap set up for me.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- Yes, I do.- How dare you?
0:06:04 > 0:06:07And your Queen will be done.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11If my birthday was on 9/11, I would probably have a different day
0:06:11 > 0:06:16my birthday party, because it's a horrible day that day.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Well, it's his opinion. It's his opinion. It's a good opinion.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22For me, it's an OK day.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26It's my birthday, which is a really good part.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29But the bad thing is the planes.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31But I wouldn't change my birthday.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33I wouldn't.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36A lot of times you will, you know, when you go some place
0:06:36 > 0:06:39and they'll say, "What's the date of birth?"
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I'll say the day and they will go to write it
0:06:41 > 0:06:44or put it in the computer and they'll just, like, stop.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50They'll say, "2001, wow! They were born on 9/11, what was that like?"
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Some people's hearts may have broke when they saw those planes
0:06:57 > 0:07:01as they knew that their moms or dads were in the buildings
0:07:01 > 0:07:03or a close relative, like a grandma.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Maybe even all of them.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10Maybe somebody was in the building and they knew they were going to die.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25My name is Johnny and I live with my mom, dad, four sisters and two dogs.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29I've got the best family ever!
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I'm just putting some through holes.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- He's coming! - He's coming through this hole.- Aw.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43We are in the Beartooth mountains.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's really cool. We've seen an eagle.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54And chipmunks. We fed them. It's cool.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58You see there's a perfect view up here
0:07:58 > 0:08:02and you see valleys and trails.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Johnny's 9/11 birthday is going to be really special.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11He's been asked to say something
0:08:11 > 0:08:15in front of his whole town at a memorial ceremony.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19I'm reading a little poem at the memorial.
0:08:21 > 0:08:27Kind of nervous I might forget it and I'm just trying to memorise it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Johnny is actually going to write the words himself.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37A few miles away from his home are the Healing Fields,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39made in honour of the people who died on 9/11.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43The visit should give him a bit of inspiration.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47There were 1,000 flags lined up by each other.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52They would represent all the victims that were killed.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55Here's one about the dogs that helped, the search dogs.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58You asked about those.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Did some of them die, though? That's what I want to know.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Well, the rescue dogs.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07They were important because they would smell the people
0:09:07 > 0:09:11that were still trapped and find them.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Sniffer dogs saved people's lives
0:09:13 > 0:09:16by finding them in the rubble.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18No dogs died at the World Trade Center.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Some were even awarded medals.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23You can touch it, too, if you want.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26It might not look like it but this amazing twisted piece of metal
0:09:26 > 0:09:30was once part of the Twin Towers
0:09:30 > 0:09:32before it tumbled to the ground.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35They set those things up for the Twin Towers.
0:09:38 > 0:09:43It was really cool because it was a piece from the World Trade Center
0:09:43 > 0:09:47and it was really cool to have it in our town.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54There's a picture of all the hijackers, the 19 hijackers,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57who hijacked the planes.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03And here is a picture of the Pentagon.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07The Pentagon is one of the largest government buildings in the world.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10It also got hit by the third plane.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15On 9/11 the terrorists crashed into the Pentagon,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19killing everyone on the plane and 125 office workers.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Johnny's going to talk about hope at the big memorial ceremony
0:10:38 > 0:10:44in his town but he'd better get a move on as it's in a few days' time.
0:10:44 > 0:10:49Makes them smile. But oh, I didn't put that.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53Do you want to practise it? Do you want to give it a go? Nice and slow.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58Terrible things happened in our country on September 11th, 2001.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01I don't know why.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05I know I am a face of hope to bring joy into the world
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- and help people and make them smile. - Very good. All right.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11It's one thing to read in front of your family
0:11:11 > 0:11:14but how's the guest of honour going to manage
0:11:14 > 0:11:17in front of hundreds of people he's never met before?
0:11:25 > 0:11:29My name is Lexi. I live with my mom, dad, brother, sister,
0:11:29 > 0:11:32my dog Buddy and my horse, Buster.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Lexi lives slap-bang in the middle of America.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39We're really glad we live in a small town where everyone knows everybody
0:11:39 > 0:11:42and there's some cool things. Sometimes we go out to the lake.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44Before the corn was growing,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48I used to run all the way into the fields and I'm like, "Whoo!"
0:11:48 > 0:11:51Do you know what happened on the day you were born?
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Lexi does.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58She knows all about 9/11 and she wants to share it with everyone.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02But not before she's tortured her little sister!
0:12:04 > 0:12:06It's very early in the morning
0:12:06 > 0:12:09when the school bus picks Lexi up from home.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12She starts school at quarter past seven!
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Today, here's hoping Lexi's 9/11 know-how
0:12:15 > 0:12:18will be put to good use as she's volunteered
0:12:18 > 0:12:21to do a presentation in front of her whole class.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23No wonder she's looking a bit nervous!
0:12:26 > 0:12:28I love history and this is just a really big thing.
0:12:30 > 0:12:35A lot of people think that 9/11 is just history.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Well, it's actually something that kind of means a lot to people.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42We will never, ever understand the terrorists
0:12:42 > 0:12:44and why they do things like that
0:12:44 > 0:12:49but what makes a lot of people sit down and cry
0:12:49 > 0:12:54is because there were innocent people in there. Someone's family members.
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Lexi's lecture seemed to go well.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Lexi was born right at the time that flight 93 had crashed.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06And so she's always had kind of a close connection with that
0:13:06 > 0:13:08and it was really odd
0:13:08 > 0:13:11because it did feel like the world did really stop that day.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17Flight 93 was an airplane that was going for the White House.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22Passengers on the fourth plane bravely tackled the terrorists.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25They diverted it into a field to prevent the hijackers
0:13:25 > 0:13:29from crashing into the White House, where the President lives.
0:13:29 > 0:13:3244 people died.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36People decided to try to take over the plane
0:13:36 > 0:13:38and try to get the terrorists out
0:13:38 > 0:13:41to save thousands of people.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45They saved a whole bunch of other people and they were our heroes
0:13:45 > 0:13:47because they killed themselves for other people.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Flight 93 was the only plane that failed to reach
0:13:50 > 0:13:54its hijackers' intended target.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02When a child is born it should be a happy time.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06But having a baby on 9/11 was difficult for their mums.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10All these people were standing around you,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and they're all standing around the television.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16And I was just the only one - even my husband -
0:14:16 > 0:14:21I was the only one laying in the bed going, "Wow! Hello?"
0:14:21 > 0:14:25And it took a nurse to walk in. And she looked at my face
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and then she looked over at them and she said,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30"Hey everybody, she's having twins over here."
0:14:30 > 0:14:34And they were like, "Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah."
0:14:37 > 0:14:39I feel bad even saying this!
0:14:39 > 0:14:42I'm sorry!
0:14:42 > 0:14:46But I wasn't excited. I was just so sad.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Anish's family is very close.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56He's especially close to his uncle
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and not just because he's good at imaginary bowling!
0:14:59 > 0:15:05I was supposed to be born two weeks later, after 9/11.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08But it turned out that I was born on 9/11.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Anish's uncle worked at the World Trade Center
0:15:12 > 0:15:14but one morning he got a call from his brother
0:15:14 > 0:15:17saying that Anish was about to be born earlier than expected.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21He made the decision straight away not to go to work
0:15:21 > 0:15:23and instead headed over to the hospital.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Whilst waiting for baby Anish to be born,
0:15:26 > 0:15:31his uncle and dad saw the two planes crash into the World Trade Center
0:15:31 > 0:15:33on a TV in the hospital.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Luckily, because he was at the hospital, he didn't...
0:15:38 > 0:15:40..he wasn't in that building.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45What if my brother would have gone to work at the same time?
0:15:45 > 0:15:52And, uh, and just the thought itself actually brings shivers in you.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56We were really so, so relieved that he was with us,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59and, you know, because we heard so much.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03You know, so many people really did not come back home that night.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11Anish is a blessing to us, to me and to my entire family.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14I owe him a lot. He saved my life.
0:16:14 > 0:16:19I feel special that I was born on such a day.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And it ended up saving my uncle's life.
0:16:22 > 0:16:28The terrible things that happened on that day changed the world forever.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32One of the bad effects
0:16:32 > 0:16:36was that some people blamed the religion of the hijackers.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39All over the world, Muslims were made to feel responsible,
0:16:39 > 0:16:43even though they had nothing to do with it at all.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48Even if the terrorists were Muslims, it doesn't mean all Muslims are bad.
0:16:48 > 0:16:53The American government wanted to find Osama Bin Laden,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55the person behind the attacks.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58This led to the war in Afghanistan,
0:16:58 > 0:17:04because that was the country where he was believed to be hiding.
0:17:04 > 0:17:09People were worried about similar attacks happening again
0:17:09 > 0:17:11so security increased, particularly in airports.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15They would put it through the X-ray machine.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18You would wait on the other side for your stuff to come out.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20They look at every single thing.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24They're looking for any, like, explosives or weapons.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27It's important to have, like, this type of security,
0:17:27 > 0:17:32and I understand it, because 9/11 happened because of airplanes.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35It's September 11 -
0:17:35 > 0:17:41happy 10th birthday to Anish, Johnny, Colby, Bryce and Lexi!
0:17:41 > 0:17:45But birthday celebrations will have to wait till later.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Johnny's big day is finally here.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52In a few hours he will be standing in front of hundreds of people.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Will he stay calm and be able to make his speech?
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Mum's nerves are all about
0:17:58 > 0:18:01the extra-special guests who have been invited.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05They have the former head of security for the Pentagon.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08They have a United Airlines pilot who was comrade
0:18:08 > 0:18:11with the two pilots who were flying on Flight 93.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Only a few hours to go and there's still a lot to do
0:18:14 > 0:18:17before the family is ready to leave.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22While everyone is rushing to get ready, Mum takes control.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25All right, remember, you've got to read it slow.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Don't hold it right in front of your face,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29'cos then we can't see your cute face, right?
0:18:29 > 0:18:31All right. So first you start with?
0:18:31 > 0:18:35My name is Johnny. My family and I wrote this poem
0:18:35 > 0:18:37and it is called, "I Am Hope".
0:18:37 > 0:18:41When you say "I Am Hope", just make sure instead of "I'm Hope"...
0:18:41 > 0:18:44.."I Am Hope". Make it three separate words instead of one.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48- Do it again?- If you want to. It's up to you.- Sure.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I'm sure my parents have a back-up plan!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Yeah, the back-up plan is for you -
0:18:53 > 0:18:57you guys to help him read it if he, like, freezes up.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01I was not aware of that, but...! I guess that's what I'll be doing!
0:19:01 > 0:19:05- Ready, Bud? - It's a good plan but will it work?
0:19:05 > 0:19:07OK, let's go guys.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18In Kansas, Lexi has made a big decision
0:19:18 > 0:19:21not to celebrate her birthday with a party, but instead
0:19:21 > 0:19:26to attend the special firefighters' memorial event in her town.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33It's a very important day for everybody.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37And... it's a very important day
0:19:37 > 0:19:43for a lot of the people who have lost their families.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It means so much to me
0:19:51 > 0:19:55because this is the first time that they're actually doing this.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58It's a small town and we don't have a lot.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01BELL TOLLS
0:20:03 > 0:20:07The fire station has managed to pull in quite a crowd,
0:20:07 > 0:20:08and Lexi is right at the centre.
0:20:12 > 0:20:18We're here at the fire station to ring the bell
0:20:18 > 0:20:22and they're reading off the names from people who have died on 9/11.
0:20:22 > 0:20:25It's a pleasure for me to be here.
0:20:25 > 0:20:32Each toll of the bell represents one person who lost their life on 9/11.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Because so many people died in the attacks,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39the bell rings all day long.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45When the local radio station find out that it's Lexi's birthday today,
0:20:45 > 0:20:46they ask her for an interview.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I think it's one of the most important things about history
0:20:50 > 0:20:54and about our lives and what changed the world
0:20:54 > 0:20:59and how... How it changed New York City.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Anish has a special way of celebrating his birthday too.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08'We don't choose to go out anywhere.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11'As a family, we decide to stay in together.'
0:21:11 > 0:21:19What we do that day is we do a prayer to remember that scary day.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25That horrifying day. And try to put some hope into the future.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31'What I think about during my prayer
0:21:31 > 0:21:35'is that I hope that this stuff never happens again.'
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Johnny's big moment is almost here.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47What you can do is stand off to the side.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- That way you don't...- Yeah, then I don't have to be here,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52cos I'd be like... I wouldn't see.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54The seats are filling up,
0:21:54 > 0:21:59and our main speaker has been given a very important place to sit -
0:21:59 > 0:22:00right on the stage.
0:22:00 > 0:22:01APPLAUSE
0:22:05 > 0:22:10My family and I wrote this poem, and it is called I Am Hope.
0:22:12 > 0:22:19Terrible things happened in our country on September 11, 2001.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21I don't know why.
0:22:22 > 0:22:29God chose for me to come into the world on September 11, 2001.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31I don't know why.
0:22:31 > 0:22:36What I do know is that heroes were made on September 11
0:22:36 > 0:22:39and I want to be like them.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45I know I am a face of hope, and I want to bring joy into the world
0:22:45 > 0:22:48and help people and make them smile.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50APPLAUSE
0:22:50 > 0:22:55'It was cool, because at first I was a little nervous,
0:22:55 > 0:22:59'but then when I got on stage I just did it.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02'It was... fun.'
0:23:02 > 0:23:08But Dad isn't going to let Johnny's birthday go by unnoticed.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12On this sombre day I would also like to do something
0:23:12 > 0:23:15a little out of the ordinary here -
0:23:15 > 0:23:18I wondered if we could all sing Happy Birthday to my son.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20LAUGHTER
0:23:20 > 0:23:23# ALL: Happy birthday to you
0:23:23 > 0:23:27# Happy birthday to you
0:23:27 > 0:23:31# Happy birthday, dear Johnny
0:23:31 > 0:23:35# Happy birthday to you. #
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Anish, Johnny, Lexi and the twins
0:23:47 > 0:23:50were amongst the 10,000 babies
0:23:50 > 0:23:52born in America on 9/11.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56You can't change the day you were born, but it's always
0:23:56 > 0:24:00important to celebrate your birthday, no matter when it is.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I love that this is my birthday
0:24:05 > 0:24:09and I can show kids how wonderful a birthday can be on 9/11.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd