9/11

Tjcoley

As the anniversary of this tragic event approaches, thoughts and prayers to all the victims and their families. And a heartfelt thanks to all the police, fire, medic and other first responders who risked life and limb, and so sorry for your losses. Not an anniversary to celebrate, but one to reflect on.

SGH

Well said brother Coley.

grege345

I will always remember where I was and who I was with that horrific day.

Zarcon

Can I get a Amen!

SGH

@Zarcon‌
Yes sir you can. Amen brother.

Tjcoley

grege345 said:

I will always remember where I was and who I was with that horrific day.

Nor will I. My son was in Pittsburgh, and when the news reported a plane down in PA outside Pittsburgh, it was a number of panic minutes until I was able to get in touch with him. He now lives in NYC so it's not a whole lot better.

grege345

With him livin in NYC on this anniversary must be nerve racking. God bless

SmyrnaGA

I was living on Long Island back then. A co-worker who's always joking around told me the news so I rolled my eyes and kept working. When more and more people were talking outside my office, I closed the door. After an hour, I noticed it was all quiet. When I opened the door, nobody was there.(like that BA commercial "where is everybody?") The whole office was empty. Everyone was packed into the only conference room with a TV...

Skiddymarker

Horrific event, hope I never witness another. 

I was up, shaving listening to the radio when it was reported an aircraft had hit the WTC, I turned on the TV and thought I was watching a replay of the event, and realized I had just seen the second tower hit. 

The air traffic into Vancouver airport - YVR (we are on a flight path about 11 NM out) was incredible as the skies emptied.

hapster

Listened to it unfold on news radio at my office... My mother had left that morning on a flight out of Philly to Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise. At one point the news reported that as many as 12 planes had been taken...

My boss with the help of his travel agent was able to find out that my moms plane was on the ground in KC. Still didn't talk to my mom till next day when I could get a call through...

I remember getting home and standing in front of the tv with my mouth open and tears running down my face as I watched the footage, so stunned that I held my back pack (it's was heavy) in my hand for almost an hour before I realized I was still holding it.

The thing that bothered me the most and what is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about 9/11... Are the poor souls who had to make the choice to jump rather than be incinerated. I can't even begin to fathom the pure abject terror they experienced.


May God have mercy on all of the victims from that day and going forward that are suffering from the heroic sacrifices they made to help their fellow man, and my He bless all of the men and women of the Armed Services that have worked so to eradicate those MFer's...

jcaspary

Thoughts and prayers to all the friends and families that were involved that tragic day.

revolver1

Prayers.

JohnInCarolina

The thing that spooked me afterwards was the realization that I'd been on American Airlines flight 11, from Boston to LA, just one month before that August.  It was a beautiful clear day, just like 9/11.  

Griffin

It was one of those life changing events that we will always remember. I was teaching high school science in a small town outside of Corpus Christi. Our Principal told us to give up teaching for the day and just watch the events unfoild on tv and try to explain them the best way we could if anybody had any questions. No training could prepare your for that. Kids were allowed to leave if their parents came to pick them up.

I remember the local news freaked out. Everybody was trying to predict what areas would be potential targets. Our news stations thought we could be one with the Naval Air Station and all the shipping and oil. I just kept thinking "How am I going to get home if they blow up the Harbor Bridge?"

I remember when this world was a much friendlier place...

kdink

Had friends that got out and are safe, knew some who where not as lucky.

Remember how quite it was. A feeling you will never forget. Could see the smoke from my house.

Have friends that still won't talk about what they witness.

And for those kids that are growing up without parents,  Just so unnecessary!  Such a shame that continues on.  Hope and prayers for those families

JRWhitee

I was in downtown Chicago on the 23rd floor of the Hyatt watching Diane Sawyer report the first plane that hit and everyone thought it was just an accident then I saw the second plane hit, I will never forget Diane say "Oh my Gosh", I knew immediately we were being attacked. I kept looking out the window not sure what would happen next. Prayers for everyone.

tarheelmatt

I was just talking with my assistant about this date.  I told her I remember this day very vividly.  I remember days, but not days where everything was so concrete in my head.  Details that I do not remember from others.  

I was new at GE at the time.  Just out of college and starting my career.  I remember the place was a buzz all of the sudden and people were chatting.  I remember a guy walking up to me saying planes had crashed in the World Trade Centers.  The realism at the time just could not or would not settle in my head.  That is something I had a difficult time grasping.  When the coverage broke and one could see the havoc, it then made sense and the terror those people had was unreal.  Definitely makes you break down into tears.  

My brother and I, because of the media coverage, didn't know what to think about the gas situation.  We grab every can we have to fill with gas and also fill every car up as well, just to be sure.  I remember the ride to the gas station with my brother.  It was a lot of "I cannot believe this" and a lot of shaking our heads.  Not a lot of other chatter, only the tragic events.  

I think now, today, my heart possibly hurts a little more.  Though I hurt for all those men and women at the time, it never hit home to me as much as today.  I am a new father of a beautiful little girl.  I cannot even begin to think about life without my little girl.  Those people, those innocent people that die in this horrific event, was a son and daughter as well as husbands and wifes.  Though I did not know or was connected to anyone in that event, someone loved each and every one of those people dearly, just as I love my little girl, and that is heartbreaking.  My stomach has a knot in it from last night when I thought about the whole situation and it is still there now.  I hugged my little girl tighter and kissed her a few more times before I dropped her off for daycare this morning.  

To the bastards that want to wreak havoc on other peoples lives, rot in hell you sons of bi#%hes.  

GATraveller

I'll never forget!!!  Amazing how unified this country was in the months following the tragedy.  Never in my life have I been more proud to be an American.  **** don't come free though.....God bless all the men and women who have fought and died to sustain this "beacon of light" in a dark world.

Fred19Flintstone

I was at work listening to the radio. I was cramming to meet deadline so I couldn't stop and think about the enormity of it all. I wept while typing at the computer.

God bless those that serve, those that have served and those that gave their lives to keep the United States the shining city upon a hill!

NPHuskerFL

Never Forget. Never Forgotten.

BuckeyeBob

What a horrible day that was. Here is my story.

I was on a plane that morning on my way to DC National. They told us right before landing that we were being diverted to Dulles and everyone groaned. Then the pilot said there was a situation in NYC so they closed National. As we were coming in for landing, I looked out my window and saw a lot of smoke billowing in the distance but didn't hunk much of it. Turns out that was the Pentagon. When we landed at Dulles, it was eerie as the far terminal was completely empty and we were literally the only ones in the terminal. We must have been one of the very last planes to land there. As we walked by a bar, they had a TV on and I was shocked to see that one of the towers was down. As of yet, I still didn't know what was going on. I was able to get a cab to my hotel over in Chevy Chase, MD which is right on the border of DC. I passed soldiers in full uniform with M-16s or something similar. I met up with the rest of my team and after watching the news for a while, we decided the best thing to do was to drive home to Chicago. One of our group had a small car which was good since no other rentals were available. Ended up with 5 people in a Ford Escort driving home. We were all stunned and just listened to the radio the whole way. Couple of other things from that day

- My wife was understandably freaking out as she couldn't get me on my cell phone. Luckily, back then I had a two way pager and could get a message to her. The joys of old technology.

- I had one friend of mine that was flying from DC to LA that day and originally circled an American flight in his notebook for his assistant to book. Then he remembered that he had just made Premier with United and decided to fly them instead. The American flight he didn't take is the one that flew into the Pentagon. He still has the notebook page.

- Another friend of mine had just started a brand new job on September 10 with a great opportunity with Sandler O'Neill. Unfortunately, it was on the top floors of Two World Trade Center and he died in the attack. Second day of work! RIP Bobby Lawrence.

JRWhitee

Wow, I hear you @BuckeyeBob that day effected so many people. 

Zarcon

Oh wow @BuckeyeBob - Sorry for the loss of your friend. As stated, it was a difficult day for many people.

Smokinpig

Like so many I will always remember where I was and how the day unfolded. I worked for a financial company in Atlanta at the time, many had connections to folks in NY. We were sent home at 1pm and the rest of the week we came to work but had nothing to do since the market was closed. It was a sad day.

Ladeback69

This was a terrible day in all of our lives and we are still dealing with this to this day. We have gotten back to our normal lives, but we will never forget where we were when we heard the news and what we were doing.