I’m going to open this thread for anyone who wishes to comment, as I see Chad has already done on a previous thread.
My kids have grown up in the frightening new world that was ushered in on Sept. 11, 2001. I was serving my kindergartner breakfast when my brother phoned and told me there had been a plane crash in New York. I turned on the television and immediately thought: “Terrorists.”
Like everyone else with a spouse in Chicago that day, I was constantly on the phone with my husband, keeping him posted on the unfolding tragedies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania and asking him how soon he could come home. He felt safe; he happened to be meeting with City of Chicago officials in a bunker-esque communications center.
There was something about the horrifying images of that morning that made it impossible to stay inside. My daughter and I went for a walk under bright blue skies, exchanged a few shocked words with a neighbor, noted the unusual silence as jets were grounded nationwide. We got in the car and drove over to my son’s elementary school where I struggled with my desire to pull him out of class and bring him home.
I think I took the attacks harder than many. I had worked across the street from the World Trade Center, had conducted many interviews there and dined many times at Windows on the World. That area of lower Manhattan had been my stomping ground, so it was easy to picture myself there as the jets flew into the towers, as I watched them crumble, and to wonder if people with whom I’d rubbed elbows were among the victims.
The coverage in the next day’s Wall Street Journal was excruciating, written by reporters in a state of shock over the nightmare they’d watched from their windows — windows through which I once stared out on the nation’s financial epicenter.
Like many local places of worship, our church held a service that night. I was never so anxious find a pew and hit my knees. But comfort and security would be elusive for weeks.
Eight years later, I remember everything about that day and the months to come, when the nation waited for another shoe to drop. What do you remember? And more importantly, what lasting impact — if any — have the events of 9/11/01 had on you?
I worked for a NY based I- bank at the time. I was in Chicago that day (thank God)…this day and picture of that burning tower makes me sick every time I see it. I will never forget that day.
I arrived to work in the Sears Tower that day moments after the plane hit the first tower. Everyone was in the breakroom staring at CNN, when I saw the image of that plane crashed into the building I said “what country is that?” , as I knew that could not possibly be here . Moments later the CEO came in and said we are evacuating the offices everyone get into the stairwell now..I will never forget the fear I felt running into Union Station for the train and the sadness for all of the vicitms…..
I put the flag out today.
I still remember the shock, the sadness. the anger.
I work in the shadow of Sears Tower (it was Sears then) and our entire office vacated by noon on that day. Very sad
It was and still is sad and horrifying. I cried that day pretty hard and for a few after. Having our church service helped. This country came together. I hope we have learned from it and we have and will persavere. God bless all those who perished and for those who have fought the fight for our freedoms. God bless them all and God Bless America.
As a responder, and as someone who knew four people who died that day, it will be a day that will never be forgotten. I, like most, watched stunned as the events unfolded on tv.
I fly a flag every day, not just on the special days. Our team was never deployed to New York to assist, but we were ready. Know that Illinois is one of the top three states in the country in preparedness and many programs in Illinois for responders both fire and police are copied in other states.
Be safe
Greg
I remember trying to donate blood or plasma in Downers Grove in the early evening after working in Joliet that Tuesday and was unable to after the already huge turn out from the members of the Downers community.
I know it will not change what happen that day and not christen like of me, but I will be a lot happier when Dalton Fury and his men get Bin Laden.
After reading Greg’s comment, I kicked myself for forgetting to put out the flag and remembered taking a lot of comfort from seeing flags everywhere in the aftermath of the tragedy –up and down the streets, flapping from car windows, as give-away decals. What a powerful symbol of national unity at a dark time.
To add to Elaine’s comment.
The afternoon of Sept. 11, 2001, as I was walking home from work north of the tracks, a bicyclist passed me with a very large flag flying from a short mast he had on back. I thought ‘how appropriate’.
When I got home, I immediately put out the flag and have every 9/11 since.