Do something today to remember what happened in America on September 11, 2001. The farther we remove ourselves from the memories of that day, the less valuable the lessons become.
Today, I am showing a long National Geographic documentary to most of the school.
Also, please leave a comment to this posting mentioning where you were and how you received the first reports of the day.
I remember clearly that I was at school but was on the phone with a mortgage broker who gasped when she saw the report come on the television. I turned to AOL and we started receiving live radio feeds from NYC or NPR. I called Chrissy right away and told her to turn on the television. I remember thinking that this was a terrible accident. After the second plane hit, and the country realized it was under attack, I went to each classroom and gave a brief summary to the students. We then assembled and watched live reports (and the towers fall) for quite some time. I remember feeling glued to the TV as I was in shock/awe for several days…I suppose I still am. After previewing these videos for the students and allowing the full gamut of emotions to come back, I know I am still in awe and appalled.
God bless America.
I remember being at work at BJUP–we were all glued to a coworker’s computer. Then we attended a very solemn chapel service, where Dr. Bob explained to us a little more fully what had happened. Another day would never be the same after that day.
Thank you for the reminder to remember.
Dr. Uwarow told us in Intro. to Education that a tower had been hit. I had no idea the magnitude of the situation until I sat in chapel an hour later and Dr. Bob spent the hour in prayer over the situation.
I was on my way to work in San Jose, CA and turned on the radio in time to hear “in conclusion, the Twin Towers, so long a permanent fixture on the New York City landscape, no longer stand.” (Funny how I can still remember that sentence) I was convinced that I was hearing a movie review or some weird commercial.
Upon arriving at my church office, I found the Senior Pastor in the TV lounge and we watched the replay of the events. I spent the good part of the day with my radio on and jotting numbers and names on my desk blotter (77, 11, 93, United, American, South Tower, etc.).
This year, however, we spent the weekend remembering One Whose death also transformed the face of society. We broke bread, drank of the cup and remembered His death – til He comes!
That Tuesday in September I decided to stay home and clean our basement. No one else in the family was at home at the time. While working I had the radio tuned to the local talk station when a news reporter said that they thought a small private plane hit one of the towers. My first thought was, “what idiot would do that!” After they broke in the second time with a report, I decided it was time to go up stairs and turn on the TV. I sat for the next couple of hours glued on the edge of our ottoman watching the TV. When the second plane hit, like everyone else, I realized it was a terrorist attack. I was overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness and anger. When the towers collapsed I wept over all of the people that I was sure were trapped inside. I also prayed for our country. In a way, I think it was good that I was alone to be able to express the emotions that came over me.