Everyone talks about where they were and what they remember from September 11, 2001. Like most people, I can remember exactly where I was. I was in 10th grade at Rocky Mountain High School and I was in Mr. Richmond's English class. I remember that we didn't do any school work but instead Mr. Richmond had the tv turned on and we were all glued to it. I have to say that I was pretty naive at that time in my life, and although I was horrified by what I saw, I realize now that I had no real perspective on the situation. And maybe I haven't for the past ten years.
All I know is that over the tenth anniversary of 9-11 I watched as much coverage/remembrance programs as I could. And I still can't put out of my mind the things that I saw. It is crazy to me that our Nation lived through it. It is crazy that it happened in my lifetime. I sat there watching in disbelief...it felt more like a fiction movie. Does that stuff really happen?!? I'm sorry if I sound ridiculous, but I think it just hit home for me more then it has in the past. And I think I am at an age where I can grasp it more fully then I was able to as a sophomore in High School.
All of the stories were touching. I can't imagine what it is really like for those individuals who experienced that day and lived to tell about it. I mean how crazy to have actually been there. And when I say crazy, I of course also mean horrifying. As sad and horrible as it was to hear all of the stories of loss, it was also so crazy to hear those remarkable/miraculous stories about individuals who survived despite being on the 97th floor and having been directly affected by the initial impact of the plane. Who would have thought survival even possible?
One of the things that really broke my heart was the recordings of people calling 911. One woman was panicked and saying she didn't want to die and that she was scared. The responder told her to stay calm and lay on the floor to be protected from smoke and that help was on the way. I know hindsight is 20/20 and I know the responder thought she was doing a good job. But Cole and I both were yelling at the tv, "tell them to get out of there. Tell them to find a way out or they will die!" And that is what is so sad. Nobody thought the buildings were going to collapse. Cole remembers someone doing a project on 9-11 in one of his engineering classes, and he remembers hearing that the buildings were supposed to be able to support that kind of attack and fire. And if they hadn't collapsed many more lives would have been saved. My heart aches for those who believed they could wait and get help. And for those firemen who thought they had more time!
I also had a really hard time listening to the stories of the families who lost loved ones on the United 193 flight. It was heartbreaking to hear about the phone calls from the plane and the final goodbyes. But at the same time, it would be amazing to be related to such selfless and brave people who were willing to give their lives for the sake of others. Many more lives would have been taken if that flight hadn't crashed into a field. It is so terrifying to think of how they must have been feeling...
I know this post sounds like a downer, but really I am just so humbled by the stories of courage/sacrifice/hope/and loss that I heard about over the tenth anniversary of 9-11. As much as it was difficult and for as many tears that I shed, I felt like I really needed to absorb all of it. I didn't necessarily want to watch, but I felt I owed it to those who had a story to tell. We owe it to them to not turn our backs even though it is hard to hear about. It is the least we can do.
Thank you Lord for my life. Thank you for my family and friends. I pray for all those who lost their life that day, and all the families who are still grieving. And I thank God for all those who sacrificed on the behalf of others.
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