Where were you?
There are certain things that happsn to us while we are alive on this planet that we can never forget. Challenger in 86′. President Regan’s attempted assasination, Columbia’s burn up in re-entry. But the most vivid in this Century is September 11, 2001.
Alright, OK, we talk and see vidio every year. Ameriican Airlines, Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles with 92 people on board slams into the north tower at 8:46 AM. United Airlines Flight 175, with 65 people aboard, hits the south tower at 9:03 AM. 9:40 AM, American Airlines flight 77 crashes into the Penagon. Finally, United Aiirlines Flight 93 with 44 souls on board crashes in Pensylvania after the brave passengers attempted to take control of the aircraft.
I have to say that I have seen the WTC many times as my Mother lives in NJ not an hour away from Manhatten by train. Many comuters take the train to work. On that afternoon, there were many cars left unattended because they were above the floors of escape and died in the colllapse of the buildings.
I have talked to friends of mine who watched the towers come down. I remember where I was and that’s not important. What is important is that the 2,793 Americans who were killed that day, did not die in vain.
I cry, really shed tears when I watch tapes of the attack. I am going to give you a web site in a sec here.but I want you to know this story., On one of the pictures you will see a NYC fireman on a bench, covered in debriis. His wife worked on the 81st story of the north tiower and he thought she was klilled. He didn’t know that Flight 11 struck the 82nd floor.
Upon arriving and answering his phone at home he found out that she was alive and waitting for him at the China Town station.
These are our countrymen. They are all heroes. Don’t ever forget September 11th. http://www.fdnylodd.com/BloodofHeroes.html
i was at home getting ready for my first day of school… needless, to say, classes got cancelled… it’s a very sad day, and it’s one that i doin’t really like to think about, but also one that i don’t ever wanna forget…
great post…
I was in New York City, at the law firm, it was a particularly beautiful, crisp morning. Plenty of people in our office come in by Subway and PATH train from N.J. and downtown passing under the giant mall complex beneath the towers. We New Yorkers use the towers as a landmark when navigating The City. When the towers crumbled to the ground I was stuck to the sidewalk, in shock. If you haven’t been inside (or alongside) the twin towers, picture a tremendous structure, and quadruple it. Then imagine huge cavernous shopping/transit structures beneath it (multiple levels of them) – and then place all of this right in the middle of hundreds of surrounding tall structures – typical New York concrete/glass caverns… all of it, gone, in a dust choking clatter of rubble, lost souls, confusion and terror.
Telephones and cellphones were out or overloaded. It was chaos – you want to call people to see if they’re alive, and people want to contact you to see that you too – live.
I’ve been inside the towers dozens of times. Ever since the initial failed attempt years before to topple the towers (parking garage bomb) – the security at the elevator entrance level was tighter. Each visit had you going to the security line, getting a photo taken, embossed on to a plastic card, your ID checked through computer lists. Then you’d start the ascent. First elevators took you to the Sky-Level, then you’d have to take another elevator to go up additional stories. No reason to be particularly afraid of heights, but you always knew how high up you were, the towers were designed for sway. That is, the building – near the top floors, would shift about 6 feet in each direction due to wind shear.
I wanted to find my Sister, who also worked in the City, and “get the heck out of Dodge” Fortunately, we had a pre-arranged meeting place for emergencies – she was waiting for me near Times Square. We jumped aboard one of the only working subway lines – packed full of New Yorkers. Someone spoke up “if we can make it to Brooklyn – then we’ll be okay – ’cause nobody want’s to blow-up Brooklyn…” That train got us to Brooklyn safely – and when it finally emanated from beneath the ground – towards Far Rockaway … we saw two black ugly plumes of smoke rising thickly, at the tip end of where once, were the towers. I thought about the smoke rising, and all of the horrors those people suffered during that early morning.
When the train pulled into Far Rockaway (end of the line) our Mom was waiting, tearfully happy to see us.
Having left New York 4 years ago… I am still frightened for those who remain.