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September 11, 2001 - 25 Years Later...
Labor Day had passed. Summer was winding down. It began like an ordinary September morning... until suddenly, it wasn’t.
I still remember hearing the terrifying news that a plane had hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Was this an accident, I wondered.
I remember staring at the television, watching the smoke billowing from the tall building, my eyes filling with tears as I innocently thought, How will they ever get all of those people out? I was young and naive, I suppose, to think it possible.
When the second plane hit, we knew this was something far beyond what any of us had first imagined.
Everything seemed to stop around the world. People left work, school, and appointments. So many simply wanted to get home - to be with the people they loved.
My family gathered together in our den around the television, and we held each other. Even though we had other TVs throughout our home, no one wanted to be in another room that day. We wanted to be together. We wanted to stay close.
And we prayed together... as the unimaginable unfolded before us.
We called loved ones just to hear their voices and make sure they were okay. Not everyone had cell phones then, so reaching people wasn’t as easy as it is today.
I remember looking toward the sky and wondering where another plane might be headed. There were so many unknowns and so much fear.
We watched on TV - as brave firemen, police officers, and EMTs ran toward the danger in New York, while dazed office workers escaped with frightful looks of confusion on their faces.
Then came the news of the plane hitting the Pentagon. Rumors spread that the Capitol or the White House would be next. Federal buildings were then ordered to be evacuated.
Then Flight 93 crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. At the time, we didn’t know it would be the last plane. We still feared there could be more. In the days that followed, we would learn about the incredible courage and sacrifice of the heroes aboard that flight.
For days, and then weeks, the news seemed to stay on constantly. It was a heartbreaking, heavy time.
But amid all that darkness, I also remember something beautiful.
America came together. We were united.
American flags seemed to be flying everywhere. There was a renewed love for our country and a reminder of just how precious life, family, faith, and freedom truly are.
All these years later, I still vividly remember the fear and heartbreak of that September day. But I also remember the prayers, the heroes, and the way we all held one another a little tighter.
Today, I pray for the families who still carry the loss of September 11th. I pray we never forget the innocent lives taken, the heroes who sacrificed so much, and the countless lives forever changed.
And I continually pray that God will bring us peace and unity once again!
If you have thoughts you'd like to share about September 11th, please feel free to share in comments below.
Holding all of you dear friends close,
Net
Net, what an AMAZING job you did of writing your memory of that day. I felt goosebumps all over while reading your words. It brought me back to how I felt also. Fabulous writing of that day.
ReplyDeleteI loved this part, "My family gathered together in our den around the television, and we held each other. Even though we had other TVs throughout the house, no one wanted to be in another room that day. We wanted to be together. We wanted to stay close." That is how it felt that day. One room. stay close. Scary to even go to another room and be alone that day.
The Churches were full for weeks after that. Unfortunately, people went back to their old ways eventually.
I hope one day we can live in a more peaceful country. -Maria
ReplyDeleteI also remember staying close to my family that day. At the time, I wasn’t sure if we’d make it through it, but here we are 25 years later. I remember watching news nonstop too. I don’t remember seeing anything else. It was such a scary time. Christie
ReplyDeleteI remember every moment of that day, I was 23 years old at that time, I’m born in London, U.K, my aunt moved from London to New York City in the mid 70s, so most of my family visited her there regularly. I was living between Los Angeles & New York City at the time, my office was a few blocks away from the world trade centre, my work had me commute between cities & I loved it. I was in NYC up until 2 days before this terrible world changing event. I had gone home to London to visit friends & family for about a week. So I was out with my sister & friend at a mall and we saw a large crowd gather outside the Sony store, so of course we went to see what was happening, they had just watched the footage on the news of the first tower being hit. We were in disbelief, and then the second tower got hit. There are no words that can describe what was happening. I remember calling my mum, as I was in complete shock. The rest of the day was somber, we drove back home (40 minutes) in complete silence, with just the news radio on in the car. Getting home, I tried to contact everyone I knew in NYC, my aunt, friends, colleagues. It’s both vivid and a blur. I know lots of my friends lost loved ones that day, the world trade centre housed so many offices, businesses & was one of the most vibrant places to work. It was a tragedy to say the least & in my life it was the single event that changed the world, up until that point I don’t think I’d seen something so horrific. So many lives lost, and it felt personal I had so many friends & family in New York, in DC & it impacted everyone’s lives. To everyone who lost someone, you will always be in my prayers and thoughts. I can’t believe it’s been 25 years.
ReplyDeleteNet, your thoughts and prayers on 9/11 - absolutely beautiful!! I went to church this morning and prayed for the families still suffering from that tragedy. I remember the day well - I was at my office (on the 16 floor, which in itself was nerve-wracking) when it happened. There was a tv in the conference room and many of us were gathered in that room to watch the events. So much was unknown at that time - who was responsible? Will there be another strike, and where? And the image of so many people in Manhattan running in the streets covered in ash - simply horrifying! I too pray that we will never see something like this again...and yet, unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Net for the heartfelt post. I highly recommend tge short film Boatlift on Pureflix. It really could be made into a full movie, but I don't know if my heart could take that. It was really hard to watch even the 17 min film.
ReplyDeleteMisty
Such a beautiful tribute Net! I’m sitting here watching the stories on my lunch break with tears in my eyes, not fully comprehending that 25 years have already passed. Doesn’t seem possible. I remember holding my family tighter that day and weeks afterwards. It was a different time the way we all rallied together. May we Never forget.
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