On my way to work at the Medical Society of New Jersey that morning of September 11th, I was zooming up I-95 heading to Trenton, New Jersey. I remember thinking to myself what a beautiful day. It was the perfect day. The sky was so blue and there was not a cloud in the sky. I got to my office and someone told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I thought it had to be a small plane like a Piper Cub or something. Out of curiosity, I made my way down to the break room where a TV was showing the building. As my co-workers and I stood there watching, a second plane hit the other tower less than an hour away from us. We all stood there transfixed. My brain was racing trying to figure out what was going happening. We all slowly went back to our offices. Sometime later, my husband called me. He told me the Pentagon had been hit, too. Nothing made sense. He also told me that I might not be able to get home that night. We lived on an Air Force Base and the base was in lock down. Later in the afternoon, we heard about Flight 93 crashing into a field in Pennsylvania. It was so hard to make it through the day. Somehow we all did. I made my way back down I-95. I was able to make it home that night, but not after having my car searched and my ID scrutinized. When I drove down the tree lined street of the main housing area it struck me that no one was outside. It was so quiet. We usually could hear the airplanes taking off, but that day the runway was silent. Giving my husband and stepdaughter a hug, I sank into the couch. For the first time that day, I cried. I cried for the people killed and their families. I cried for my country, the United States of America. I felt hopeless. I wanted to go and help comfort those who were missing love ones. The only thing I could do was pray.
Ten years ago today, 9/11 occurred. To me it feels like yesterday. The emotions that I felt, I still feel. It is so important for us as a nation to remember this day. It is a day of remembrance and reflection. We need to teach our children about this day. There are some that say 9/11 is a day of service, but it is not. It is a day of remembrance and always should be. Tomorrow, 9/12, when our country forever changed, is a day of service. Let us not forget how we felt on 9/11, but also don’t forget how you felt on 9/12. As we remember and reflect, we grow stronger in our resolve to make the United States remain the greatest country on Earth.
Jana, I couldn’t agree with you more. 9/11 IS a day of rememberance. I, too, remember exactly where I was when I heard it and all the feelings/emotions I felt that day, I feel again. I cried then when I saw the footage of people leaping out of the towers. How horrible that jumping to their death was better than where they were. Thankfully, that was only shown once that I know of. I cried again last night when I saw an interview with a 10 year old boy that lost his father that day. His father was a fire fighter and when he talked about him, he broke down and sobbed. My heart broke for him and I cried along with him. Our world forever changed that day is so many ways. Bin Laden is finally no longer a threat and hopefully, families affected by this and our entire country can move toward closure and healing and unity.
Very nicely put!
Thank you for your reflections. 9/11 is a part of our lives and history to those who where not yet born. A very important part to remember and understand that if we are not ever vigilant this could happen again.
I too remember where I was when the attack of 9/11 happened and was completely devastated as well. Now is the time for rememberance and also diligence plus teaching our young of the hero’s made that day and afterward. We must never let our guard down so something like this could happen again. Still crying in my heart for those who lost their loved ones.