September
11, 2001 was a day that will go down in history as the most deadly attack on
the United States. The images were horrific from that day. I remember it so
clearly. My daughter had called me and told me a plan had hit the first tower
at 8:46 am. Everyone in the office piled into the conference room to watch the
news. No one knew what was going on--was it an accident, was it an attack?
All too
soon after that first plane hit the tower, we all watched in horror as the
another plane hit the second tower at 9:03 am. I remember thinking it was like
watching a Hollywood blockbuster movie, but sadly, it was no movie. It was all
too real. 3,000 people lost their lives that day in New York. More lives were
lost in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon as two more planes were involved in
attacks against the United States.
A new
tower has been built as an testament to the American spirit of never letting
our enemies defeat us. As the new structure rose up into the sky, we could take
comfort in knowing that we would also be honoring all those who died in those
horrific attacks.
We should
all take a moment to reflect on all we should be grateful for--family, friends
and anything else that is near and dear to you. My heart aches for all those
who lost a loved one on that tortuous day. Time will never dull the outrage we
felt watching that destruction, but maybe time will help heal the hearts of all
those who suffered that day.
It seems that memory has faded on this incident, with many adults but especially youth.
ReplyDeleteThe students I teach, the graduating class of 2020, most were not yet born when the terror attack took place. The junior class, none were alive. It has almost fallen into the realm of Pearl Harbor or JFK's assassination. A significant event, but a historical event and concern rather than a contemporary one.