Five years ago, today, our world was forever changed. Rob and I had been married for a little over a month, and were still settling into our new apartment. We woke up when our alarm went off, just like any other day. We got ready, Rob for work, and me for the gym. We only had one car at the time, so I was going to drop him off at work and then head to the gym to work out. We got in the car and started discussing our plans for the evening. We didn’t pay any attention to the radio that played softly in the background.
I dropped Rob off, and headed to the gym. I turned the radio up and realized that it wasn’t playing music. I changed the radio to another station, and it too was only playing news. I tried several other stations to no avail. They were all playing news. I gave up and started listening. What I heard petrified me.
Terrorists had hijacked a plane and had crashed it into the World Trade Center. I instantly changed direction and headed home. As soon as I got there I turned on the news. Then I called Rob at work to see if he had heard. He had, and they were listening to the radio to stay updated on the situation. He spoke some words of comfort and then said goodbye. I called my mom and dad, and my sisters. Suddenly family had become extremely important to me. My mom also had words of comfort for me. She said that our country was strong and that we would get through this hard time, and because of it we would become stronger.
I was glued to the news all day. I watched in fear as a second plane crashed into the other tower. I listened as yet another plane crashed into the Pentagon. One more plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field thought to have been headed for the White House. I thought of all those who were killed or injured. I thought of the families whose loved ones worked in those towers, and what they must be going through. I thought of my friend Sara who worked in downtown NYC, and wondered if she was okay. Her husband worked in the towers. I tried calling her, but couldn’t get through. It was a scary day for me. I wondered what lay ahead for our country and its people.
As I look back to that day, I realize one thing is certain. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Freedom is NOT free. It comes at a heavy price. We have learned many things from the attacks of 9/11. And though the fight on terrorism is not over, we are fighting for our freedom from terrorism. My heartfelt thanks goes out to those serving both here and over seas for our nation. May God bless you and watch over you as you fight for our freedom. Know that we are praying for you and our country’s leaders. May we never forget…
I dropped Rob off, and headed to the gym. I turned the radio up and realized that it wasn’t playing music. I changed the radio to another station, and it too was only playing news. I tried several other stations to no avail. They were all playing news. I gave up and started listening. What I heard petrified me.
Terrorists had hijacked a plane and had crashed it into the World Trade Center. I instantly changed direction and headed home. As soon as I got there I turned on the news. Then I called Rob at work to see if he had heard. He had, and they were listening to the radio to stay updated on the situation. He spoke some words of comfort and then said goodbye. I called my mom and dad, and my sisters. Suddenly family had become extremely important to me. My mom also had words of comfort for me. She said that our country was strong and that we would get through this hard time, and because of it we would become stronger.
I was glued to the news all day. I watched in fear as a second plane crashed into the other tower. I listened as yet another plane crashed into the Pentagon. One more plane crashed in a Pennsylvania field thought to have been headed for the White House. I thought of all those who were killed or injured. I thought of the families whose loved ones worked in those towers, and what they must be going through. I thought of my friend Sara who worked in downtown NYC, and wondered if she was okay. Her husband worked in the towers. I tried calling her, but couldn’t get through. It was a scary day for me. I wondered what lay ahead for our country and its people.
As I look back to that day, I realize one thing is certain. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Freedom is NOT free. It comes at a heavy price. We have learned many things from the attacks of 9/11. And though the fight on terrorism is not over, we are fighting for our freedom from terrorism. My heartfelt thanks goes out to those serving both here and over seas for our nation. May God bless you and watch over you as you fight for our freedom. Know that we are praying for you and our country’s leaders. May we never forget…
P.S. Feel free to tell me where you were when you heard about the attacks?
2 comments:
Cami, I woke up this morning, remembering where I was 6 years ago today. I had gone into work early to try and finish a project before its deadline. My office was quiet and I turned on the radio. Music played for a few minutes and then the announcement came of the terriost attack. I still can remember the sick feeling I had. I rushed up to the third floor of our company and gathered with the others watching the news on television.
My heartfelt THANKS goes out to all those that are serving here and over seas, too.
Michelle
I lived in Orem and we had 4 kids at the time. I was also doing a semi-day care, babysitting a few extras for friends in the ward. My older two were at school when the Dad of two of the kids I watched came to drop them off and he asked me, "Did you hear about what happened?" "No, what?" I replied. "An airplane just crashed into one of the Sears towers, it's on the news right now." I said good-bye and quickly turned on the news. I was dumbfounded. My father-in-law was a United pilot, recently retired, at the time. The commentators were trying to figure out if it was pilot error or what when a 2nd plane came on the scene and crashed into the other tower, right before our eyes. I went from curiosity and concern to shock and alarm. The mom of the kids showed up after only 2 hrs. saying that nobody was working, and everyone was watching the TV. When I went to pick up my kids from school, someone requested, "I'm Proud to Be an American", and you could hear the radio announcer tearing up as he announced it. I cried the entire time it played, singing it through my tears, blinking so I could see the road to drive. That was when it hit me the hardest.
I remember leaving the TV on literally all day and all night. All flights were grounded and no one knew when they would get home. I remember our family pouring our hearts out in prayer that night, both grateful for our blessings and our freedom (which, as we need to remember, comes at a high price) and for safety for our country and our loved ones. It has been quite the journey ever since. I thought of Captain Moroni and his rally for freedom and those who would join his cause, and I marvelled how this country pulled out the red, white, and blue and waved those colors proudly, as if to say, "United We Stand! We love our country and will fight for her at all costs." I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN.
Thank you for asking, Cami. I look forward to reading others experiences!
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