9/11/2001 remembered

[Leslie Ferguson]

Even though the world will never forget, today will mark the 6th commemoration of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and 4 airline flights in the US. For all who helped during those days and hours following the event (especially our Canadian friends who willingly gave from the heart) my thanks and the thanks of a greatful nation.

As you take a moment out today to remeber those who passed you can find a link to the site that lists the names of the victims (http://www.september11victims.com/september11victims/victims_list.htm).

May you all cherish your families and those whom you love. Give them a hug and tell them how much you love them.

Peace,
Les

[Robyn1007]

Les, thank you for posting a thread. All at once the day seems so long ago yet like it was only yesterday. My thoughts on this anniversary once again turn to a very close friend, whom I had never met at the time, who survived that day. She worked in the WTC but was to fly to San Fran that fateful day. On September 10th she decided she wanted to sleep just a bit later and changed her flight from flight 93. I am eternally grateful for whatever made her decide to do that as I never would have been blessed with her friendship.

May the thoughts and prayers of the world prop up those who mourn the anniversary of the loss of loved ones today. I only wish there were something to say that could help take the pain away.

[TKay]

I second the thanks for starting this thread that will help us remember that day--and all who were lost. I was pregnant with my second son at the time, and I remember wondering what kind of world I was bringing him into. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who lost their lives, all who suffered a loss of someone else, and all who lent a hand.
Will you all be flying a flag? We fly ours anyway since we're at war. But I know people are trying to get everyone else to fly the US flag on 9/11 each year.

[SusanL]

TKay,
I ran out this morning and when I got home, DH had our flag prominently displayed in front of our house. I thanked him for being patriotic, the only house in our development with a flag. It was early so there may be more, but he made me proud. We also have had small flags in front of our house since Memorial Day.
Thanks Les for starting this thread!

[testkitchen45]

Will you all be flying a flag? We fly ours anyway since we're at war. But I know people are trying to get everyone else to fly the US flag on 9/11 each year.

I'm always flabbergasted by the huge numbers of people who don't fly a flag on certain days, especially 9/11. Mine's out there, to be sure.

I remember getting my DD ready for Mother's Day Out, and my DH calling me to say that the Twin Towers were on fire, and "it looks like we're under terrorist attack." Is this the first time the anniversary has been on a Tuesday, the same weekday of the attack?

I remember talking to my DH on his cell phone after the Pentagon was hit, as he drove to retrieve the TV that had been placed temporarily in his company's storage facility. His voice was so shaky and filled with disbelief.

I remember hearing that the first tower fell, and staring openmouthed at my car radio after dropping my child off at Mother's Day Out: it had fallen in the brief time that I was out of the car. I remember Peter Jennings' reaction: "Oh, you mean it looks like part of the tower fell . . . what? The *whole* tower's gone?? . . . [silence]" And I remember that in the time it took for me to park the car in the garage, until I turned on the TV again upon entering the house, the second tower had fallen. I remember being thankful that my children were all old enough to have a normal school routine so that they would know nothing of what was going on, although if they were home, I would not have permitted them to see or hear anything about the day's events.

I remember worrying about our dear friend who worked at the Pentagon. (Turned out that he was across the building at the time.)

I remember picking my DSs up from school that afternoon, and seeing several times as many parents there to pick up their children. Some were SAHMs like me, but most were working dads & moms whose buildings, I presume, had been evacuated. All were in sunglasses. Despite the fact that we live in a very sunny climate, people often don't bother putting on sunglasses for that short walk from the car to the school pick-up area; that day, however, many moms and dads had red eyes--I know I did.

I remember having to tell my children a bare-bones version of why Mommy was sad. And I remember how they got a group of friends together to canvass the neighborhood for donations to be sent directly to the Red Cross--they wanted to do something to help.

I remember how it finally didn't matter what color everyone's skin is, but we *all* flew American flags, and we *all* felt united against the monsters who had done this thing.

I remember--and I hope that everyone wears red or blue today.

[muriel3002]

Check out this website: http://mygooddeed.org/.

There is a movement underway to make 9/11 "good deed day."

[memartha]

Les, thanks for starting this thread. I don't have anything eloquent to say, but I'm thinking about all those whose lives were lost and those whose lives were changed as a result of this terrible day 6 years ago.

[slknight]

Today I'm remembering everyone who lost their lives, but especially Joseph Angelini, Sr and Joseph Angelini, Jr who were with the NYFD and the father and brother of a friend of mine.

[Leslie Ferguson]

Thank you for your responses. Alas, since I've just moved and my townhouse has no place to attach a flag holder I have no place to fly the flag today but on all past rememberances I have.
I too remember a good friend who was in the Pentagon and was killed in the attack.
We lifted prayers at school today especially for the day and I know there is a prayer vigil ongoing with the students here.

Peace to all,
Les

[zackaboo]

It is hard to beleive that 6 years has passed since this tragedy. It was such a turning point for our country and sometimes it is hard for me to remember what life was like before the September 11th attacks. But I will never forget exactly what I felt when I learned about what had happened and the pain that I still to this day feel for those children who lost a parent, those families that lost a son, daughter, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin... and anyone who lost a loved one.

It is important to remember.

[TieKitty]

Thanks, Leslie, for starting this thread.

I will never forget where I was, or how I felt on 9/ll. It was like being in the twilight zone. I had heard about the 1st attack on my way to work and when I got to the office the 2nd plane hit the towers. That's when I knew it was a terrorist attack. I went home to get a small TV and we watched the events unfold all day. Not much was said between all of us..we were too shocked.

That night after everyone was in bed I sobbed. I felt like the lives of Americans had changed forever.

God bless those who perished in this disaster. We will never forget.:(

[Jessica]

Remembering the victims of 9/11, their loved ones and those who have served their country in the wars that have followed.

Especially remembering Ann Nelson, May 17, 1971-September 11, 2001.

May the One who makes peace in the heavens make peace for us on Earth.

[RecipeGirl]

Thanks for the touching thoughts...

No one will ever forget where they were when it happened. I was on the west coast and up early nursing my son. As the day progressed, I remember thinking, "what kind of world am I bringing my son into?"

I had to teach 2nd grade that day. It took all I had not to break out into tears. It was so difficult to talk to the kids about it too.

At the time, we lived in an area where planes flew directly overhead. It became eerily quiet for several days after 9-11.

If you have a chance to watch the history channel today, DO. They have some great programs on that I saw last year. They'll dissolve you to tears for sure.

[Angelina]

I remember that morning I was still at home when it happened, debating whether to work from home or not. I was on my laptop, when I received an instant message from a friend telling me to put on the TV. I told him no...I didn't want to watch the news. He told me to do it anyway, something was horrible was happening in New York.

So I did. :( I spent the morning frantically trying to reach DH, who worked in the INS federal building downtown Manhattan. My Dad called and I was in tears so he picked up my Mom from work and brought her over. I tried reaching my cousin, who worked in one of the towers. I tried reaching my best friend, whose husband worked in one of the towers. And I tried reaching my brother, as my niece went to school in the neighborhood. Eventually I heard from everyone, and they were all safe.

Finally my husband called me. He was on a bus somewhere in Brooklyn, safely on his way home. He was on the last J train out of Manhattan, and when the train was stuck on the Williamsburg Bridge for a while, he watched the towers crumble. He was close enough when the planes hit, and he told me it was so surreal that in his mind he felt he was watching some extremely realistic movie. Either that or a horrible dream. He saw people jumping off the towers. Afterwards, he spent months working the night shift as the FBI and the INS were working around the clock.

On October 1st, I will start a new job and I will have to take the PATH train to NJ, and every morning and every night I will be right in the pit, in the middle of all the construction work. Every time I have had to take that train for interviews so far, I have felt so sad in that pit...I don't think it will ever go away.

Angela

[ClaraB]

I was struck this morning, as I drove DS to school, by the brilliant blue of the sky and the brightness of the sun, just as it was 6 years ago. For some reason I can remember that so vividly...

May we find peace in our memories.


Especially remembering Ann Nelson, May 17, 1971-September 11, 2001.

May the One who makes peace in the heavens make peace for us on Earth.
Jessica, did you know Ann Nelson well? I know that she was from ND.

[Laura]

Clara, I remember feeling the same way; a spectacular fall day. I remember driving my kids to school in a daze and looking at the faces on the people in the other cars and it just seemed so quiet. The kids remember me saying after hearing the Pentagon had been hit that "we are under attack." Clearly not the most comforting thing to say to my then 12 and 9 year old :rolleyes: but it was just a reaction. I pray for those families who were affected and for our servicemen and woman every day. I am so thankful for them and our fire and police departments.

[Jessica]

Clara--I did not know Ann very well. She lived on my floor in college freshman year and graduated with me, but we weren't friends, just acquaintances, and I did not keep in touch with her. Still, I was very sad about her death; we went to a small college and it was a close community.

[generic]

The thing that still brings tears to my eyes about that day is the thought of all the fire and police personnel who willingly went IN those buildings others were desperately trying to get OUT of. That is the essence of selflessness, and they will always always always be my heroes.

A distant friend of my mom's lost a brother on that day. My understanding was that he was a pilot or copilot on one of the planes that hit the towers. Last year I heard that she (the sister) had developed a serious drinking problem since her loss. My heart goes out to her in her pain.

[newtricks]

. I was pregnant with my second son at the time, and I remember wondering what kind of world I was bringing him into.


I was pregnant as well and I will always remember how many children weren't even born when they lost their fathers and one who died with its mother. It was a horrible time to be pg here. Dh's co-worker and a woman in town were both pregnant and lost their husbands. In the hospital, the nurses told me about holding pictures of absent fathers while the mothers gave birth. So so sad for them. And of course I was so grateful that my family was intact and so guilty for feeling that way.

[kim21]

Thanks for starting this thread. I just watched a little bit of the Oprah show featuring the Children of 9/11. I am so deeply moved by the sadness held by these children...heartbreaking. Each and every one of them have tremendous courage within...

[DeeK]

I have my small flag flying and I have a commentary on my blog about the day.

I just feel an incredible sadness for all the families touched by this tragedy.

[AndreaU]

As this occured during the first week of my first full-year teaching (my first class of my own), it will always be in my mind. A student of mine lost her father that day and every day her mother has stopped in to say hello. Bless her... I should be the one visiting her!