remembering_together

« Constitution Day | Main | Space, My Final... »

Remembering Together

By: Nancy | September 11, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Seven years ago today, most of my coworkers and I huddled around the office television, trying to make sense of what we pentagon flag were seeing on the screen: New York City. The World Trade Center. Gone. A couple other colleagues went onto the roof of our building, looked into that bright, blue sky and saw a plume of smoke rising from the Pentagon, three miles away.

September 11, 2001 immediately changed daily life, from what was covered on the evening news, to the way we traveled to how we marked history.

It stirred us as a nation. We hung flags from highway overpasses and front porches, car windows and our lapels. We stopped to thank those who served and protected us.

And it drew us closer as people. We were nicer to each other on the subway and in the line at the supermarket. And we found ways to help those who were hurting and those left behind. Our shared experience helped us understand a little better about the price of freedom, and what it meant to love our neighbor.

Where were you on that morning, seven years ago today?

Permalink | View Comments [15] | E-mail This Entry | Tags: nancy pentagon september terrorism world_trade

Bookmark and share: About social bookmarking

Comments (15):

Posted by clutter_buster on September 11, 2008 at 09:12 AM EDT

I remember I was in the office here in DC. Just plugging along - working on my project. Then my co-worker Anne came by my cube and said "We're all in the main office watching CNN." And I replied "Why are we watching CNN?" And she said "A plane hit the twin towers in New York."

I sat there shocked and speechless.

Then my phone started ringing. It was my best friend. "Are you leaving work?" and I replied "I don't know. I'm not sure what to do."

Then she said "Hold on....Ok, my co-worker told me a plane just hit the Pentagon"

"WHAT?!"

I was frozen. I will never forget that day for the rest of my life.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Ross on September 11, 2008 at 09:24 AM EDT

September 11 touched people all around the globe. I remember driving through Melbourne, Australia, the morning after. Australia's second biggest city was a ghost town that day. I remember feeling numb, and feeling like the world had changed forever. It had. As Nancy points out in her heart-felt post, September 11 "drew us closer as people" - worldwide.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Thomas on September 11, 2008 at 09:36 AM EDT

When the first plane hit the first tower, I was on my way to work listening to the news. I was at work watching the TV in the lobby when the second plane hit the second tower. By the time that the pentagon got hit I was a very angry vengeful person who was saying things that I am now ashamed of saying.

Seven years ago I should have been on my knee seeking God's justice and mercy instead of seeking vengeance for what had happened.

Thomas

Comment Permalink

Posted by Perry on September 11, 2008 at 10:05 AM EDT

I should have been at work that day at 14th and Independence, but instead, I was at home with strep throat, my first day out sick. My girlfriend called from Georgetown to tell me to turn on the television. I spent the morning watching it all by myself, stunned and scared, in utter disbelief.

It actually feels strange to have been in DC that day but to have been so removed from the turmoil that ensued downtown.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Marco Graziano, Genoa, Italy on September 11, 2008 at 05:48 PM EDT

I was sitting in front of my office PC looking incredulous to the breaking news.

we all cannot, we don't want, we must not forgive what happened on 11/9.

We will never forget 2749 died for the brutal violence of few.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Dorothy on September 11, 2008 at 05:49 PM EDT

I was just finishing breakfast at home in Patchogue, NY when my daughter called and said "Mom a plant hit one of the towers in NY. I was in shock and turned on the TV. Saw all the smoke and then I saw another plane flying so low. I said out loud "Why is that plane so low when it hit. I knew then it was done on purpose and cried. My God what is happening. Those poor people. I will never forget.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Chillin in Chino on September 11, 2008 at 11:52 PM EDT

I'll never forget that day. I remember being in the bathroom getting ready for 7th grade. I was brushing my teeth with the bathroom door open and my dad walked up the stair talking about something. He sounded shock and kind of scared. I really wasn’t paying him much mind because he wasn’t talking to me; he was talking to my mom. Then I heard him say that America was under attack. That got me. I completely froze in my tracks, with the toothpaste and spit coming down my chin. I said "what happened?" My dad said, “The Twin Towers were hit with two airplanes this morning. I couldn’t believe it how can two airplanes just run into two tall building like that? What happened to the people driving the planes? Well now I know that they were probably died, because the planes were high jacked by terrorists. The planes where on their ways to New York. I always wanted to go to New York, especially on a plane. I mean I could never drive there, I live in California. But after 9/11 I had no desire to get on a plane period. I didn’t know if people were going to strike again. I didn’t know when was too soon to get back on a plane, but for some people; a lot of people that is couldn’t stop their lives. Their work consisted of them getting on those planes to travel. It was what they had to do to keep their families going. I remember that day being such a sad day at school and overcast too. Some say that, that was the first day that they entire world was overcast at the same time. I believe them. All we can do now is be careful pray and have faith. We have to make sure that we tell our children about that day, and they tell theirs, and those children tell their children and so on. Explain to them the hurt and sorrow that America felt that day. So that noting like this EVER happens again.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Unknown on September 12, 2008 at 02:39 AM EDT

TO
THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA .
DEAR USA , I WILL NEVER FORGET 9 / 11 HAPPENED. THAT TIME I STAY MIAMI - FL . ACTUALLY THE PLANE NOT HIT THE TOWERS , HIT MY HEART . THAT DAY I CRY AND PROMIES , ONE DAY I WILL DO SAMETHING GOOD AND GREAT FOR THOSE PEOPLE THEYARE DIED . NOW I DO THAT . I RESEARCH MY SELF AND FINDOUT "AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF EASY IN-DEPENDENT ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM " . NOW I WAIT FOR THAT DAY , GREAT USA HELP TO ME AND I DEDICATE THIS ALTERNATIVE IN-DEPENDENT ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM TO ALL THE INNOCCENT DIED PEOPLE . I HOPE GOD AND GOD BLESS COUNTRY USA HELP TO ME DO FOR THAT .
THANK YOU .
DAYAL RAM MONDAL . - raju .
dayalram08@yahoo.com
mondal.raju0@gmail.com

Comment Permalink

Posted by Roger de Coverly on September 12, 2008 at 05:34 PM EDT

We were dressing to leave Stratford, Ontario. My wife happpened to turn on the TV just as the first plane hit, thought she was watching some movie, called me out of the bathroom to watch the special effects and I saw the second plane hit. Not possible to describe the fear, anguish, anger, need to get back to our beloved country all at the same time swirling in our brains. We threw our bags into our van and rushed to Niagara Falls and the bridge to home.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Unknown on September 15, 2008 at 11:31 AM EDT

I WILL NEVER FORGET 9 / 11 HAPPENED. THAT TIME I AM IN THE OFFICE FOR WORKING FOR ANIMATION WORK ACTUALLY THE PLANE NOT HIT THE TOWERS , THAT HIT MY HEART . THAT DAY I NEVER FORGET BECAUSE MY COUSIN BROTHER IS ALSO A CITIZEN OF AMERICA , HE IS MBA & WORKING IN A BUSINESS FARM .ONE DAY I WILL DO SOMETHING GOOD AND GREAT FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO THE PEOPLES ARE DIED. I FELT VERY SADFROM THAT VERY DAY ,BECAUSE IT IS REALLY A PATHETIC SITUATION THAT I NEVER SAW BEFORE , 2PLANES WITH PASSENGERS HIT THE WTO PRESTIGIUS BUILDING ON FULL BUSINESS HOURS , INOOCENT MEN & WOMEN ARE BUSY FOR THER WORK . I AM AN INDIAN , BUT I LOVE AMERICA , AMERICAN PEOPLES , THEIR LIFESTYLES , THEIR POLITE BEHAVIOR , BECAUSE OF IM WORKING IN 123GREETING .COM FOR 3YEARS , LIKE AS OUR INDIA NOWDAYS MANY INNOCENT PEOPLES ARE DIED DUE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS , I REALLY HATE THAT TERRORISM . I BELIEVE THAT TERRORISM NEVER THE FEVER OF INNOCENT PEOPLE, IT NOTHING BUT A DESTRUCTION OF NATURES , GOOD PEOPLES WHICH IS CREATED BY THE ALLMIGHTY GOD. I PERSONALLY FEEL THAT TERRORISM IS THE TOTAL AGAINST ACTIVITY OF CREATIVITY WHICH IS CREATED BY GOD . SO I NEVER SUPORT TERRORISM . AS A CREATER I ALWAYS SUPPORTS THE BEAUTY OF NATURES THAT IS GIFTED BY THE GOD , & NOBODY HAVE N'T A PRIORITY TO DESTROY THE BEAUTIES OF NATURES , & THE INNOCENT PEOPLES WHICH IS ALSO THE GIFT OF GOD.

THANK YOU ,
YOURS FAITHFULLY
JOY CHAKRABORTY
(dd2276538@gmail.com)
(sumantochh@yahoo.com)

Comment Permalink

Posted by raylunderwood on September 15, 2008 at 04:04 PM EDT

Well after 500 points in stocks today in the hole. I know it is gov. and I will be out of a home in 6 months (Recession anyone). who will help the victoms of greedy Gov and corp's in cohoots.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Patriot on September 17, 2008 at 08:23 AM EDT

As others, I will never forget that day. I was in my office near the White House in Washington, DC. A coworker came by to say, come watch the TV in the lobby, a plane hit one of the Twin Towers in NYC. We all thought it was an odd accident -- until the second plane hit. Shock. Then, the news came that the Pentagon was hit, and maybe other buildings in DC. Without waiting to hear about evacuation, we told all employees to go home. I got my car out of the parking garage just before they closed the street. As I drove home up Connecticut Avenue, thousands of people were walking home -- unable to get their cars out of garages or afraid to get on the metro. They walked arm in arm, many with tears coming down their faces. We love this country and couldn't imagine why someone would do this to our country and to so many innocent people. Thank you for your post.

Comment Permalink

Posted by Patriot1947 on September 22, 2008 at 10:51 PM EDT

I was asleep, my son called and told me to turn on the tv, I stared in disbelief as one tower fell and then another. I served in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, I was willing to give my life for the people and the USA. Like all of you, I believed that terrorism brought down the towers and changed America, God help me, I now know different, and I wish every day that it wasn't true. Our government has lied to us, we have been the victim of yellow journalism and outright propaganda. On 9/10, the day before that horrid day, the US Gov. tested planes exactly like the ones which hit the towers and Pentagon, not just once, but took off and landed by remote control 6 times from an airforce base in California, they could have taken control of those planes, why didn't they? Why did the family members of high Government officials including Bush and Cheney call off work that day? The truth is out there, but you have to want to know, and most Americans are happier believing what the news media and US Gov. spoon fed us than the truth. To you I say, PEACE, I understand, and I support your choice, I was too curious, and I have been changed by what I have learned almost as much as the country has been changed by the events of 9/11. No, don't call me a conspiracy nut, or un-American, I am not crazy, I am not un-American, I still love my country and its people, I would still offer my life up for America, but for our leaders and politicians, I wouldn't spit on them if they were on fire, they do not deserve my spit for the things they have done to our country, the atrocities they have committed to become richer and more powerful. Enough said, I will just leave you with this: "When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, then the world will know peace" Jimi Hendrix.

Comment Permalink

Posted by just me on October 03, 2008 at 01:53 PM EDT

Are u aware that the United States Immigration just brought 29,000 of those people from Iraq here in the US free ?They say they are refugees? They say they screened them but hey they screened the people that did this damage too look what happened .Are you opposed to the hispanics being in the US .Do you know that 60% of the illegals in the US are not hispanics?Yet all we see on the news is mexicans being sent back to there country.Or that the US brought 12,000 El Salvadors ,Honderas etc here free in the US as well????????WAKE UP AMERICAN CALL UR GOVERMENT OFFICIALS AND COMPLAIN

Comment Permalink

Posted by Intelligence Analyst on December 02, 2009 at 09:15 AM EST

I was in a freshman college spanish class. We said a prayer in Spanish and were sent home. I just remember walking to the student union to check out the tv coverage and everyone who had a cell phone was on it.

http://www.intelligence-analyst.com

Comment Permalink