Seems to be the opening phrase of many conversations this morning. I remember, as I’m sure you all do too.
Will share this with you … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFkZiwMLZ4&feature=player_embedded
Love
I was at work as I am right now. After hearing about it on the radio, the computer and internet was the next source of info. I called my wife to make sure I wasn’t dreaming, and, unfortunately, she told me no.
Thank you Betty. I was getting ready for work and saw the towers ablaze on my computer. I thought it was some kind of ugly photoshop gag. I watched that artist create his painting, in the video you provided, of the NYFD firefighter holding a child, while listening to Paul Simon singing “The Sounds of Silence” on TV at the memorial in New York. It was gripping and emotions of sadness, patriotism & anger became overwhelming. Thank you also to all the 1st responders, and especially to our military. It’s admirable how our troops have transformed those gripping emotions into strength, unity & resolve. I personally can’t thank our nation’s heroes enough.
Fishing for summer steelhead on the Deshutes River, OR. We didn’t know anything had happened until late morning when we quit fishing and drove into town to have breakfast. My fishing partner was active duty Navy but was not called back for a couple of days. This was the first day of a multi-day fishing trip. My wife, daughter, father and mother in law had flown to Hawaii for a week vacation 9-10. I was very worried about them and had a hard time getting in touch. Later they were on the first flight allowed off the big island and then the first flight to leave from Honolulu to Seattle.
I will never forget SeaTac International when I picked them up. Armed National Guardsmen everywhere and the airport was virtually empty.
A week later we flew to San Diego to attend our oldest son’s graduation to a Marine at MCRD San Diego. A ceremony with perhaps a little more meaning than some others. Many of those young men and women went on to fight in both Afganistan and Iraq. Some giving the ulitimate.
1st thing I did this morning was raise the flag then lower to half staff…
I was in my E911 Centre, in Wainwright Alberta,and then that night I was on standby with the Canadian Forces, to be deployed anywhere needed…
I was at work listening on radio and wondering if some of my customers were still alive. (They were, but they all lost friends that day.)
I woke yesterday morning a few hours early. I Floated the Roaring Fork River here in Colorado. I took the time to write this down on another forum.
13 HOURS
I was working for Schwans Icecream at the time. I was on the second morning of my overnight at the Alpine Motel in Collbran Colorado. A small ranching community about 45 minutes North east of Grand Junction. It was about 5:30 in the morning when I woke up. I made a pot of coffee, and got ready for the days sales. My mind was not really on work yet. The night pryor, the Denver Broncos had played the NY Giants on Monday Night Football. I think Denver won, but what was on my mind is our All Pro wider receiver Ed McCaffrey suffered a broken leg in the game. I was worried what that would do to Denvers chances of making the playoffs.
When it was time I went outside to unlock and pre-trip my truck. As luck would have it, I had locked the damn keys in it! Oh what a crappy day this is going to be. I went back in the room, and called Tony Matarazzo. He and his dad owned Valley Ranch which is a gas station, towing service type establishment. Tony lived fairly close and arrived, and unlocked the door . It only took about 15 minutes from the time I called till he had the door open. I dont know how it happened, but later in the day a gallon of Icecream ended up with his wife Melony. No charge on the Icecream as Tony wouldnt take payment for saving my skin.
My first stop of the day was at Lois and Doc Nickles place. Lois always had a cup of coffee waiting for me. Today was no different. After bringing in her order, putting it away in her freezer, and collecting payment, I sat and had a cup of very strong coffee. As always I would shoot the breeze with Lois, Doc (Ben) and a couple of their ranch hands as Lois was making them breakfast. I spent maybe 10 minutes there BS’n then made my way to my next stop which was about 30 minutes away.
I had my radio set to 13.40 Sports radio. I was listening to the Tony Bruno show. He was commenting on the Monday Night game. Then he paused, and said. “This just in. A plane has crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York. We will keep you updated.” I believe that I as most people thought it was an accident at that point. I thought plane? Maybe like a Cessna? I simply had no idea.
My time line gets very foggy after this. I dont know if it was the next stop or a few after when the second jet struck. All I know is that when it did hit, my/our life had just changed forever.
Selling a box of steaks and a half gallon of Raspberry Icecream really didnt seem all that important, but I stayed on the job. Every house I stopped at the television was on. There on everybodys screen was the carnage and destruction. Peoples temperments were mixed. I witnessed open crying to a few old men shaking their fists, dropping the “F” bomb, and swearing revenge! A few younger men I noticed used the word “kill” in almost every sentence. They spoke in genuine anger. It went on like this all day long. The emotions were getting to me aswell. I went from sad, to extremely mad all day long.
I went through my rout, but I didnt try to sell. I went through the motions and thats all. I stopped at a Pay phone in Mesa Colorado and talked with my wife Kelly. She was still at work aswell. I told her I was hurrying to get home. My mind kinda went numb. All I wanted was to get to my wife, and see my children. I NEEDED to phyically see them in person. I NEEDED to see that they were all ok. I normally got home from my 2 day rout at about 9:00 PM Tuesday night. I was home by 6:30 this evening. I remember Kelly coming up, putting her loving arms around my neck and hugging me. I broke down and started to weep. Kelly cryed as well. I felt our tears mix upon our cheeks. My loving wife had done it again. She had made my world safe again.
I dont know what happened after that. It was Ten years ago. I do know this. That the 13 hours from 5:30 AM till 6:30 PM on Tuesday, Sptember 11th 2001 will be forever burnt into my memory.
On September 11th 2001, in less than 5 minutes I wrote this article that was published in FAOL’s Readers Cast the following week…
The Lady in the Harbor
By Steven H. McGarthwaite
[COLOR=darkred]September 11th, 2001, the day that will be remembered by all who were alive when destruction fell out of the sky. The whole world stood still, in shock that the United States of America had fallen victim to the worst act of terrorism in the history of humankind. [/COLOR]
[COLOR=darkred]We watched live television broadcast the second airliner as it crashed into the second tower of the World Trade Center. It was only then we found out we were not watching a terrible accident, but the second attack on the United States of America.
Before the day was over, we saw the Pentagon hit by a third plane. Our Government in Washington DC was dispersed to safe sites. We were left to wonder who hated us so much that they would take so many innocent lives.
We shall grieve and mourn those who died that day, and will remember the courage of those who responded without thought to save others at the risk of their own lives.
Be thankful that those who planned this attack did not hit that which we cherish most. The terrorists thought they had struck at what we hold most dear. They struck at at symbols of monetary wealth by attacking the World Trade Center. They struck at symbols of power by attacking the Pentagon. They were planning to strike another symbol also, but that plane crashed because the passengers overpowered the terrorists on the plane before they could carry out their plans. 130 years ago the people of France gave us a precious gift for the 100th birthday of our country. The Statue of Liberty! While the Towers burned and crumbled and people suffered to see them fall, she stood nearby unbowed.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she, with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, you huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
The smoke and dust drifted in the air across the water. Tears in her eyes she stood proud, for she knows her children. They are strong and will prevail against all evil, and help her keep lit the light of of freedom and democracy. She stands by the Golden Door.
May God Bless American as we grieve and mourn our loss.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/readerscast/rc165.php
[/COLOR]
I was working at JCCC,well at least I was there Not a whole lot of work was getting done. A large group of people were staring at a big screen tv, and you could hear a penn drop. I had a coworker tell me about the towers, and I had to go and see for myself, and I could not believe what I was seeing. This type of terror mentality had caught us off guard to say the least, but not anymore. Thanks to all the brave men and women that gave up all. We will never forget!!!
I was standing in my living room watching the “Today” show. They announced that a plane had hit the first tower and it sounded like a tragic mistake. I watched live as the second plane hit. Vickie had just come in and I told her “We are under attack, we are at war.” One plane, maybe an accident, two planes it was deliberate, and the the attack on the Pentagon and the bravery of those fine American over the skies of PA causing the terrorists to miss a target at the cost of their own lives.
REE
Thanks Betty, I sent that link on to many friends today,
I was at a job fair for Target. I will never forget seeing the signs on I-81 reading “All Access New York City Closed” and likewise on I-83 for Washington D.C. Being a trained aviator i knew instantly that hitting a 1000+ foot tall building on a severe clear weather day is no accident no matter what type of failure the plane has suffered. The second hit was reinforcement of the facts. Then news of the Pentagon and the heroics in the sky over Shanksville, Pa.
I was never afraid. I was furious, really in a rage! Tears and sadness came later on. Wanted to find the evil souls that did this and exterminate them from the earth.
Today at the depot was a day of vigilance and nerves. They know who we are, how vital we are to the military. The day passed smoothly thanks to the professionalism of my fellow employees.
We have a slogan that goes something like this:
“Lets us never forget 09/11/01. We vow to provide A-1 logistical support to the warrior who serves our nation”
Here is a message for the evil ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFs8wTK2tfg&list=FLHmJGry9Ul8sHCXb7VDQqSg&index=183
God bless all who perished on 09/11/2011, their loved ones and the men and women of our great military, law enforcement and emergency personnel.
I was on a fishing trip to Lake Chopaka, Washington, up in the Okanogan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chopaka_Lake
No TV, only radio, so we missed the horrors of watching the fall of the twin towers and the aftermath. What I remember most about that week was the absolute quiet from the skies, no airplanes were flying over heading for Sea-Tac or Vancouver, total silence.
Larry —sagefisher—
I was in my office in the upstair extra room of my house listening to talk radio from Atlanta when the program was interrrupted with news of the first plane crashing into the WTC. I turned on my television and then saw the second plane crash into the other tower.
I was working in loss prevention, part of risk management for Starwood Hotels at the time. AON was our broker, they were headquartered in Tower 2. The VP of risk management, my boss, was schedule for a meeting that day in their offices. Deb Gibbon, our account executive, called and asked if he would mind coming in on the 12th as they had another large account, I think it was Johnson and Johnson, they really needed to met with. Deb was one of the people who did not survive the day. I did not know her well, only met her one time. I remember her as a a very pleasant person with a sweet personality, probably late 30’s or so, single mother of two or three children. I keep her card on my desk so I see it often to be reminded. My very first boss lost one of his sons that day also. Murray has since joined his son in eternity.
I was at home, watching TV.
I was on my way home from dropping my kids at school when I heard about the first one on the radio. I’m an airline pilot that did a lot out of Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, so I thought a major mishap. Got home just in time to see the second one hit on TV. That morning is burned in my brain like it was an hour ago.
I was driving down the road when the news came over the radio and about 2 mins later I was put on standby for possible deployment as needed.
I was across the Potomac and about 5 miles up-river of the Pentagon at a DoD facility. My boss came in and said a plane had just hit the North Tower; we thought he was kidding, went to a break room and saw the 2nd plane hit. Didn’t hear the one hit the Pentagon, although you could sure hear the sirens afterwards. Stayed through the evening, starting preliminary work trying to locate potential bad guys. Thing I remember the clearest was the absolute lack of traffic on the roads driving home; usually gridlocked well into the evening but there was hardly a soul on the road.
Regards,
Scott
I was knee deep in Lake Tanneycomo when the first one hit. When I got back to the lodge I took a quick shower and by the time I got out, the second plane hit. We grabbed some breakfast and headed home. I was on active duty the next day. We’re going back this weekend. It seems appropriate.
I was at work in Chicago and our building is right at the end of a runway for O’Hare Airport. As you can imagine the noice level being at the end of a runway is pretty high so when they grounded all of the air traffic the silence was defening. Very sad and scared.
Bob