A Day to Remember

 

  

   I don't think anyone who was old enough on this date sixteen years ago doesn't remember the disbelief, horror and pain the events of that day caused. Even as we watched the events unfold on tv we had disbelief that something so horrendous could happen here in our country. Horror at seeing the images on tv of the planes hitting the Twin Towers. Terror while watching people jump out of windows to avoid being burned alive only to plummet many floors to their deaths. The pain that engulfed us as we watched thousands of people die including the first responders who courageously waded into the chaos to rescue survivors and the passengers who rebelled and prevented their plane from crashing into the White House. On this day, sixteen years ago, we as a nation lost our sense of security and our innocence.
   I remember what I was doing when I heard of this tragic event as if it was only yesterday and not so long ago. I was working for an asphalt company driving a dump truck. When I got the news over my company radio I was sitting at a light at the intersection of Van Dorn Street and Eisenhower Dr. Van Dorn St is a north / south road located in Alexandria, Virginia. I happened to be going northbound. The intersection I was at is located at the bottom of a hill and has a limited view ahead. I got the call about one of the Twin Tower being hit then another call that the Pentagon had also been hit. Disbelief and shock was my first reaction. Why would anyone do such a thing? How could they do it? My mind couldn't grasp the idea or make sense of it. The signal light turned green and I proceed to travel north. As I crested the hill, in the horizon I saw a huge, thick, black plume of smoke rolling skyward. My disbelief turned to horror. A chill ran down my back. I was supposed to be working that day in the South Parking Lot of the Pentagon doing paving. The contractor wasn't ready for us to start so the job was postponed. I also used to work in the Pentagon for the Chief of Naval Operations and the section of the Pentagon that was hit was the area where I worked. My son was in Pennsylvania and was flying home that day. In my panic I couldn't remember from what airport he was flying out of, what flight he was to be on or time of departure. I spent many hours in agony wondering if my son was on the flight that crashed before hitting its target. I cannot even begin to describe my relief when I finally was able to speak to him and verify he was okay. My daughter was in high school away for the day’s turmoil and I knew she was safe. But she too dealt with fear that day. She knew her brother was flying out from Pennsylvania and she thought I was at the Pentagon unaware that the job had been canceled. Her friends had parents who worked at the Pentagon and they were unable to find out if they were safe. This event affected everyone who was old enough to understand its significance.

    Let us take a moment sometime today to remember those who lost their lives on this tragic day sixteen years ago. Remember the ones who were in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, the passengers of the four flights, the first responders and the civilians who bravely joined in to help. Let us remember those who survived the attack on our country that day, the search and rescue teams who valiantly put their own safety at risk to look for survivors, then later for the dead and everyone whose Herculean efforts helped to try to put order to chaos. The ones left behind by this tragedy are still suffering the trauma of the aftermath.

     This day sixteen years ago touched each one of us in some way. And we as individuals and as a Nation will never be the same again.

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