9/11/11

Last Sunday was the 10th anniversary of what is known as 9/11. I want to reflect a little about 9/11 in this post and some of my feelings I had at the time. None of my grandchildren were born when this day happened and they will read about it in their history books at school, but I want to document my feelings about it for them.
Our family went to New York in 2000, right after Tyler got off his mission. When we were on our ferry ride, I took a picture similar to this one of the New York City skyline. It was a beautiful skyline. We were in New York City on a Sunday morning and it was very peaceful and actually very quiet for a big city.

A little over a year later, on September 11, 2001, Michael came home from early morning seminary and had just heard on the radio that a plane crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. We immediately turned on the tv so we could see what was going on. Soon after we turned the tv on, we saw this happening pretty much live on tv. We couldn't believe what was happening! Another plane had flown into the other tower. 

Within 2 hours, both towers had collapsed into ashes.

Soon after the report of the 2nd tower being hit, there was another report of a plane being flown into the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. 

And yet another plane soon after - going down in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. 

I copied the following from wikopedia:

"The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/11) were a series of four coordinated suicide attacks upon the United States in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area on September 11, 2001. On that Tuesday morning, 19 terrorists from the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda hijacked four passenger jets. The hijackers intentionally crashed two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City; both towers collapsed within two hours. Hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth jet, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to take control before it could reach the hijacker's intended target in Washington, D.C. Nearly 3,000 died in the attacks."

My reflections of 9/11

After seeing the attacks, it was hard for me to get into motion on that Tuesday morning. I went to work, but couldn't work - and neither could anybody else, so we all went home. I sat in front of the tv most of the next few days, trying to take it all in. It was very shocking, sad, and simply unbelievable that something like this could happen. I was so sad for the families who had lost loved ones in the attacks. I remember needing a break from all the sadness on tv, so I took Spike for a walk. While we were walking a black dog came out of nowhere and attacked my Spike. In trying to fight off the other dog, I tore the knee of my pants, but I was finally able to get the other dog away from us. This just added to the turmoil I was feeling about the day.

I don't even know how to express in words how it felt on that day, but words like darkness, gloom, sadness, and fear come to mind. I was afraid that my boys might have to go off to war, especially Michael, since he was the right age. I was afraid that other attacks might occur. Tyler was just thinking about becoming a police officer and I worried about something like this happening to him as he responded to emergencies. I worried about my future grandchildren and what kind of a world they would have to live in.

This act of terrorism affected our country in so many ways. Before 9/11, the economy was flourishing. After 9/11, the economy tanked. I don't really think things have ever been or ever will be the same again. Many lives have been lost since 9/11 in the war against terrorism.

If I have to look for some positive things that came from 9/11, I remember how the country came together after the attacks. People were nicer to each other. People from all over the country and maybe the world went to NYC to help where they could. Our country came together for a short time and it didn't matter whether you were a republican or a democrat, we were united in the quest to find the people who did this. I remember using the word humbled. Our country was humbled. It's too bad more people can't remember those feelings today. I pray for our country and I honor and thank those who have given up their lives to protect our freedom. I truly mean this when I say "God Bless America" because we need His help more now than we ever have before. 9/11 was a changing day for our country, but hopefully, after 10 years, we've learned a lot, we're more watchful and alert to the things going on around us, and things will start changing for the better so that my grandchildren can live in a safer world.