I was too young to really remember much about President Kennedy's assassination in 1963, but those older than I am can likely tell you where they were when they heard the news. I do, however, remember very distinctly when I first heard the news about what happened here in the U.S. on September 11, 2001.
I was working at the front desk at our dental office when co-worker Dianna came up and said, "Turn on the TV. Allen [her husband] said a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York." We turned on the little 13-inch set and we watched in horror as the second plane crashed into a second building.
The events of that day have affected so many lives in so many ways, apart from those killed directly in the plane crashes.
In September 2006, Mom and I made a trip to Winterthur, Delaware, for GardenFair. We took US 30 across Pennsylvania and as we passed by Shanksville, we saw a simple sign that said, "Flight 93 Memorial." We knew we had to stop there on our way home. 
Neither of us knew what to expect when we got there, but what took both of us by surprise was the flood of emotion that came over us and moved us to tears. One moment we were getting out of the car and looking out over the rolling countryside to the crash site. The next, we were reading the mementos left by other visitors in great numbers as we wiped the tears from our faces. 
We truly felt like we were on hallowed ground.
Eight years have passed since those terrorist attacks and the rage felt by so many has dimmed a bit. The same time that is supposed to help heal the hurt has also caused those not directly affected by loss of a friend or loved one to forget the intense emotions felt at that time.
Let's not forget that the war on terrorism goes on and that many deliberately put themselves in danger every day in an effort to keep us safe from those who wish us harm. To those who have served, are serving, and will serve in our military - THANK YOU.
"Bejeweled"
7 comments:
I thought about it all day today (yesterday now), Kylee, remembering what I was doing when I heard about the attacks and the horror of it all. And the silence in the skies for days afterward. It's hard to believe it was already 8 years ago.
I was watching video clips and pictures on the Internet yesterday and cried a lot. It was weird to hear laughs when I went for a walk.
We all have stories about where we were that September. It is heart-breaking. My brother was in the Pentagon and was blown out of his desk. He spent the day helping others, but we didn't know for a long time whether he was ok because phone lines were jammed or down. I have since seen NYC and the Pentagon but not gone to the fields in Pennsylvania.
All of New York City was a memorial site for the year after the attacks. Downtown Manhattan, where I worked, where the fires burned into the Spring, was a crematory. It took many rains before all the ash was washed away.
My office overlooks Ground Zero. The changes there have been far too slow in coming, but they are finally happening. Yesterday, I could watch the families descend and return, leaving flowers in the temporary pool that's setup every year for the ceremonies.
When the National September 11 Memorial is finished, there will be a cobblestone in the plaza for "Gardeners for Recovery," the name of the campaign I sponsored to raise funds for the Memorial.
So true, Kylee. We must never forget that awful moment that affected so many innocent lives.
I was so happy to read the Xris raised funds for the "gardeners for Recovery " for the National September 11 memorial. Thanks so much, Xris.
Amen to everything you wrote Kylee. I think we in Oklahoma will never forget the emotions of 9/11 because of our own bombing. It is fourteen years ago, but feels like yesterday whenever 9/11 rolls around. I thought of all of the terrorism around the world this year. We must not forget.~~Dee
September 11 hits close to home a bit for us. My wife's a flight attendant and we give pause to think of the airline crews, in addition to all the other victims. 9/11/01 was our daughter's very first day at school ever in pre-school. On Friday she celebrated her "friendi-versary" with her school girlfriends (and "Aquaint-iversary" with the boys she doesn't like). Helps show how life goes on for the rest of us.
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