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| Photo courtesy of Katie Nolles |
Today marks the 11th anniversary of that horrid day; September 11, 2001. I can remember that day quite clear. It seemed like a normal day at school when the somber voice of our principal comes over the loud speaker, "Attention faculty, staff, and students. I am distreesed to say that our nation has been attacked. Planes were just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City." I instantly began to cry since I knew that my aunt June worked just across the river and I was scared for her life. Every TV in our small school of 160 students K-12 was instantly turned on. Within 10 minutes my Grandma Hanson arrived to comfort my sister Jody and I and assure us that June was safe and was going to be fine.
It seemed like minutes turned into hours turned into days and then weeks went by with nothing but coverage of this attack on our nation. That is ALL that was on. At home it was heartbreaking to continue to watch it over and over, day after day that we simple would turn the TV off and find something else to keep out mind off of it. I don't think we accomplished a single thing in school for at least 3-5 days. All we would do is arrive to our classroom, sit at our desk, and watch the TV. We were all shocked and I was at that time only a 4th grader. People these days jokingly ask if I even remember 9/11 since I was so young, but as I mentioned, it is an event in my life that will forever be REMEMBERED.
For my age, I was lucky enough to have had the chance to see the towering twin towers. Growing up, my sister and I would visit our aunt June with our grandparents practically on a yearly basis. The last time and first time after the tragedy that I returned to NYC was in April of 2008. At that time, the area was called Ground Zero and it was simply devastating to see then 7 years after. Still in the cleaning up stages. But what I really remember about that trip other than the fact that my sister had the bright idea of tossing our house cat on me the morning we left home for the trip causing "Maggie" to freak out and stick her claws in my face giving me a gorgeously scratched face during the trip was walking through memory lane and just getting a sense of all the fear but yet comfort as we walked through the church that was nearby and which was used as a control center. It was a place where so many people came together to help each other through those dark days. There were so many artifacts, posters of support, and pictures, pictures, and pictures! I cannot wait to go back someday soon to see the new 9/11 Memorial!
“Now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning. It’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend – even a friend whose name it never knew.“
- President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001
- President George W. Bush, December 11, 2001
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the familes and friends affected by this day 11 years ago. I know that they are still grieving today! As President George W. Bush said that day 11 years ago:
"Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”
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A father, who lost his son in the attacks at the World Trade Center,
pauses at his son's name at the North Pool of the 9/11 Memorial before
the 10th anniversary ceremony at the site Sept. 11, 2011, in NYC.
Courtesy of Justin Lane/AP Photo/ABC News
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GOB BLESS AMERICA!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
MAY YOU NEVER, EVER FORGET!
