9/11

Seeing the high rating made no sense to me, until I read the reviews and saw the wisdom of the sentiment. And I have to agree that although we lost many bright, courageous and wonderful people, we also saw selfless caring by first responders and others who volunteered in any way they could to improve a disaster area.
As others have said, most adults alive during this event will always remember this day. I was working in north NJ about 15 miles away from ground zero. Customers began coming in with stories, and the Internet seemed to be confirming the details. I was a workaholic but decided that this was going to be a short day. I rushed home and parked myself in front of a tv for longer than I can remember. And while the footage and reporting were washing over me I just felt numb and confused. Commuting to work the next day I could see all the smoke that was still coming from the site, the entire horizon in that direction was black and gray. I remembered thinking that this was a wall of death. Then of how many souls it represented, then of all the ripples of sadness and loss that would affect the lives of their families, friends and loved ones.
The sense of loss, and not just of these beautiful lives, continued for many months in the NY/​NJ area (probably across the entire US too).It was almost as if a more innocent time was a distant memory, with this event being the dividing point between then and now. My thoughts often went to the children who were old enough at this time to understand and empathize with those who were directly affected. I still think of those children and hope that this has not taken away too much of their youths. And I hope that maybe they will be the generation who can actually do something to heal the rifts between cultures, religions and ultimately people. My propensity towards optimism is also tempered with much realism, so I wonder if that sentiment is too hopeful.

It’s a 5 star as a sign of respect for those who were affected by this senseless tragedy that struck our great nation on this darkest of days. Forever you will live in our hearts as true Americans. God Bless America and each and everyone of its citizens.
I was in the 10^th grade getting ready to go to school when I saw the breaking news. I saw one of the towers get hit by one of the hijacked planes. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought at first it was a movie. It wasn’t until I arrived at school and saw the news all day there that I realized it wasn’t all an act.
To this day, I still remember the image of the towers getting hit. It brings shivers down my spine thinking of it. I pray for the victims and their families. I pray for everyone affected by this tragic event.
If only we as citizens of this beautiful planet can stop all the hatred…
God Bless America and everyone of its citizens.

Let’s all take a moment…
Thank you. I have had the opportunity to visit NY during a time when the towers stood tall and strong, as well as the year of the unfortunate collapse, years after when the grounds were of dirt, debris and floral memorials from family, friends, co-​workers, passerby’s, tourist, and those simply wanting to be apart of the remembrance of souls lost on this very piece of land.
Each time I’ve felt a different type of extreme emotional sadness. However, my last visit in 2011 I was able to visit the indoor observatory… it blew me away. It was so well done, well kept, inviting and informative. Definitely something everyone should see whether visiting the Big Apple or visiting.
Love & blessings to all,
~Christy

⁹⁄₁₁
I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was driving my street sweeper and listening to the radio. I got out of the truck to pick up some trash on the floor. The radio was on and I thought the local radio station 97.7 K-​win was playing a sick joke.
I went home then fell asleep, My ex-​wife woke me up. she was holding our son who was one at the time and turned on the T.V. I was in total shock, I said «wow» the radio DJ wasn’t making this up.
We stayed at home and watched what was showing on T.V. We said to ourselves «we can’t believe something like this is happening. «How could this be»?
One of my good friends Dave H from Stockton, Ca. Took it upon himself and joined the U.S. Army just shortly after. He later became a U. S Army Ranger and still to this day is out there protecting our country. Bravo Dave.
We lost many Men & Women during this tragic event. Even though you’re gone but none of you are ever forgotten. Thank you to all those who helped.
Thanks my Unilocal buddy Tania L, for letting me know about this page.
VD…

«Where were you when ⁹⁄₁₁ happened? «.
All those who are old enough to remember, remember exactly whe

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and it happened to be my day off. I was working for American Airlines. I wake to a ringing phone, and it’s my mom telling me to turn on the TV, a plane just hit the WTC… I was like no way, a Cessna or something? I turned on the TV just in time to see an American Airlines jet hitting the south tower.
Total disbelief…
Spent the remainder of that morning between the news and the various phone calls. I was chatting with a friend about what we were actually seeing on TV… Thinking this is horrible, but the FDNY is on top of it, and we have the best police department and emergency services in the world here in NYC.
I turned away from the TV for a moment, then when I looked back there was only one tower standing where two once stood. «Ummm… Did that just happen?!?» «Yea dude… Nah… I mean this is a teaser for Independence Day 2 or something.» Yes, it’s all real and happening on live TV.
As the day unfolded, it was beyond obvious that the world has changed forever.
Evacuations, closures, shut downs, etc. Shut down all Federal buildings so at least I knew my mom was safely on her way home. Several phone calls and text messages later, everyone I know is safe and accounted for. But that didn’t matter, because most of us here either directly lost someone, or we’re close to someone who did.
We all have different memories of where we were, what we did, how we felt. For me what sticks with me the most is the sheer irony of it all. If you were here in New York on 9÷11÷2001, you’ll remember what a beautiful day it was. I mean, crystal clear blue skies, a light breeze, not a cloud in the sky, crisp clear air. It was really a post card picture perfect kind of day.
Its strange, but I kept thinking to myself «my God what an absolutely gorgeous day this Is!!!» only to be brought back to earth with the reality of what was happening. The sheer irony that such a horrific event that was in the process of permanently altering this world and hundreds of thousands of lives was happening on such a perfect day is what haunts me to this day.
The next day I was back at work at American Airlines out of JFK. I was off Monday-​Tuesday that week so ⁹⁄₁₂ was my first day back. I’m greeted not by the whining and rumbling of jet engines, not by machinery humming, computers buzzing, or co-​workers and supervisors barking at each other. I’m greeted by complete silence.
30 American Airlines jets parked at their gates, cold and dark. Empty passenger concourse. The mini city that is JFK is like a ghost town. I couldn’t take the silence so I took a vehicle and went for a drive around the AA tarmac, looking for some signs of life. Complete silence.
I went back to my work area and the words a buddy said to me 14 years ago ring as clear in my head as if he said them to me 5 minutes ago… «You know I really wanted a day off, really wanted an easy day… But not like this… Not like this…» Again, the irony of it all. So many direct connections to what happened, people, places and things. That this busy hectic place that teams with activity ²⁴⁄₇ is a virtual ghost town. That 9÷12… As the horror of it all became more clear and more real… Was another absolutely gorgeous day.
Of course when ⁹⁄₁₁ rolls around we can’t forget. We all remember where we were or what we were doing. We have permanent reminders with our permanently altered skyline. I no longer work for American, but I’ve been flying AA for 20 years, I fly out of JFK frequently, and there’s always an AA jet overhead. I think about the dozens of flights I’ve taken up to that point. All the ordinary routines, procedures, everything on the inside that I was privy to. I think about all the people who are no longer here for whom it started out as just an ordinary Tuesday morning. Knowing exactly what many of them would have been doing. Its beyond creepy.
Not to mention my office today is basically across the street from the World Trade Center. So there’s always that constant reminder when I simply go to work.
What haunts me the most is not the date or the remembrance ceremonies. Not the stories of people. What really haunts me is when we have a beautiful day like the one we had that morning. I think to myself «what a beautiful day!» with excitement… Then pause «this is a September 11^th type day»… Then I get a chill.
I could go on and on and on like many of us probably can. Suffice to say this day is a permanent scar for all of us. Those of us who were fortunate enough to not lose anyone… We have friends or family or others that we care about that did and we all share in that pain.
Friends, remember this. Appreciate every moment. Don’t rush, don’t make a big deal out of nonsense, don’t be short with people. Don’t take everything so seriously that doesn’t warrant it. In the end none of this crap matters.
There’s nothing more important than people. The people you love. The general health and well being of us all.
God bless…