Where were you?
Yesterday marked 18 years since the attack on American soil of September 11, 2001. This day will forever be etched in my mind. I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing and I’m guessing many American’s do as well. The feeling I had like many, is hard to describe. The day was filled with fear, uncertainty, unrest and shook America to its core.
My children had been in school for an hour or so and I was watching the morning news after the first plane hit even though no one was sure what was happening and then witnessed the second plane hit on the TV screen. I was shocked and couldn’t make heads or tails of what was going on but I knew I needed to get to my children. I called the school to talk to the principal and he had no idea anything had happened. He immediately put the school on lock-down and I drove like a mad women to the school, to gather my children.
After speaking with the faculty, they didn’t want to panic the children so I decided not to pull them out of school, but stayed in the building the remainder of the school day. I wasn’t able to get in touch with my husband at the time but all I wanted was to be at home with my family together, safe and sound. The terrible news kept coming and like most American’s didn’t have a clue how to handle the information. The day felt like chaos.
One of my brothers and his wife were in Florida on vacation and had a very difficult time getting home or even communicating with us.. Flying wasn’t an option and they ended up having to rent an RV with several other people and drove like hell to get home. It was an unsettling time for everyone and probably like many families ours made a plan for any future attacks. Where to go and what to do.
Long before September 11, I had made plans with a few girlfriends that included travel to New York City in November of 2001.. We weren’t sure until closer to the date if we’d be able to safely travel or if we still wanted to travel but as it turned out we were able to go. Even though the trip was sprinkled with happy events, 9/11 still loomed over the city and the hearts of the world.
Before leaving NYC, we wanted to pay homage to the fallen and went to ground zero even though getting to the area was very difficult. Once we arrived it was shocking to say the least and looked like a war zone that was surrounded in steel canopies that covered much of the area. It was keeping debris from falling off the buildings. Police officers were guarding the area and the atmosphere was somber and incredibly sad. So many people lost their lives on 9/11 and in the several days that followed.
I pray this type of attack will never happen on American or any soil again. To all the men and women that gave their life that day, we thank you and remember the sacrifices made, the lives lost, the lives saved and how we came together, united as a nation. It made me proud to be an American. I’ll always remember exactly where I was on that date, where were you?
xoxox…..Sheryl