topic Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11… in Among Friends

20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

HonestLife — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 21:15:13 GMT

As we approach this solemn anniversary in American history, I feel deadlocked. 9/11 had a profound impact on me. I spent years battling anxiety, depression and overwhelming catastrophic fear. I have been on the front lines of desperation and indescribable overprotection. I will Never Forget; forever etched in my memory. If you have an American Flag, fly it now. Where you when this happened? Did you do anything to show your Patriotism?

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

nana59 — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 21:33:20 GMT

@HonestLife wrote:
As we approach this solemn anniversary in American history, I feel deadlocked. 9/11 had a profound impact on me. I spent years battling anxiety, depression and overwhelming catastrophic fear. I have been on the front lines of desperation and indescribable overprotection. I will Never Forget; forever etched in my memory. If you have an American Flag, fly it now. Where you when this happened? Did you do anything to show your Patriotism?

sorry you've been struggling for so long....where were you when this happened......

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

Mominohio — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 21:59:16 GMT

@HonestLife

I too am sorry you have had such battles and hope that the passage of time has allowed you some relief and peace.

I was at work when this happened. A very small office, no tv, no radio. We were working away and our 'home office' and president called to let us know that someone's plane hit a building in NYC. We all just shook our heads and wondered who couldn't see a building jutting up out of the sky, assumed it was very small plane and minimal damage, and went about our work. We had no idea.

I worked half days at the time, as I had a child in half day preschool. I left at my usual time to pick him up (around 11 am), and got in the car. As it started, the radio was on and I heard " blah blah blah" just words that I wasn't listening too. I was wanting some music so started hitting stations, and each button, I heard "blah blah blah" again, none of the words registering.

After the third or fourth station, my mind locked in, and in the two minute drive from my office to the preschool, I was astounded at what I was hearing.

I had a cell phone, and knew that my mom was home alone, would have had the news on all morning, and be freaking out, so I tried to call her. Couldn't get a signal. I was in the school parking lot with other parents who were wandering around trying to find a spot to get a cell signal too. Several of my son's classmates had fire fighter fathers, and one of them said to me, "you won't get a signal right now". They had been following from the beginning.

I picked up my son, none of the staff was talking about the happenings in front of the kids (school went up to 6th grade) but teachers were taking turns going to a television unavailable to the kids, and watching the news.

On the way home, I tried to get my brother on the phone. He flies for business, especially at that time, nearly every week and I had no idea where in the country (or sometimes world) he was at, or if he might have been in the air that morning on a commercial plane. I knew my mom would be freaking out about his whereabouts as well.

Once on the road, I got a signal enough to reach my mom. We eventually reached my brother and he was, gratefully, not traveling that day. We went straight home, and I watched with my 5 year old, as the news repeated and continued coverage till late afternoon.

September 11 happened to be the birthday (5th) of my best friend's son. We were to go to his party that afternoon, and she decided to continue with the plans. I've always felt sorry for that kid every birthday since, as his special day is overshadowed with such tragedy.

I know many people who my son went to school with, and they never told or discussed much about the day, or ever let them watch news coverage of it, till they were of high school age. I found that to be odd. Although every child is different, and some can handle things of a disturbing nature better than others, I was determined my son would know of this and see it on a limited basis. I knew that life would never be the same in America. I knew that he needed to understand at some point, terror, school lock down drills, stranger danger beyond what we had been taught, and used the events to begin the dialogue.

It was our Pearl Harbor. It was my Kennedy assination that happened when I was just a toddler and have no memory of. I pray it is the only thing like it that I have to recall the explicit details of where I was, what I was doing, when horrible tragedy struck a nation, and a world.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

kaydee50 — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 22:07:53 GMT

We were living in Chicago at the time. However, I worked at 2 World Trade Center on the 105th floor for about a year in the mid '80s. I still cannot look at the twin towers or have any desire to visit the 9/11 memorial. Seems like last year and not 20 years ago that it happened.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

itsmagic — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 22:48:45 GMT

We happened to be driving to New Haven, Connecticut that morning from the Midwest (had already driven a full day the day before, stopped at a hotel and got up early to continue our trip) and we were on the outskirts of NYC getting ready to cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. My youngest daughter had secured a year long internship in New Haven after graduating from college.

We had the radio on in the car. The first plane had just hit in NYC and the radio announcer (not really knowing what was going on) initially speculated maybe it somehow got off course. When we arrived in New Haven and saw the TV news with the full extent of what had happened I didn’t want to leave my daughter there but we did. I was just very sad having to go home without her (which I would have been anyway but I think more so after 911 happened and the initial uncertainty surrounding it).

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

grandma r — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 22:49:25 GMT

@HonestLife. We fly our flag proudly every day.

Yes, I remember exactly where I was and the patient that I was with when we heard about the 1st tower. No, I will never forget!!! Nor should anyone.

I am so sorry that you've been struggling for so long. However, I certainly understand how profoundly those images are seared into our memories. Sending hugs to you.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

zitawins — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 23:09:00 GMT

I won't bore you with my long story, but suffice to say I was in Florence, Italy on a guided tour. We heard briefly that a plane had hit one of the Towers, but we all assumed it was a small plane off course. Most of our group proceeded on to see the David, but some of the men stayed behind to watch Italian TV. Very few of us spoke Italian and had to rely on our tour guide for updates. It has early in the morning, and it took me until night to reach my daughter in the states. Our tour went on to Rome for the flight home, but it was touch and go whether our flight would depart. We all assembled at 5 a.m. and waited hours until we got the go ahead to leave. When we finally entered Canadian air space we all applauded. We eventually landed in Boston, and as we debarked the pilot said, "Welcome home." It was an event etched in my memory.

In 2015, my grandson and I visited Ground Zero and walked around the commemorative pool that had all the names of the fallen etched in granite. A moving reminder of what we all suffered that terrible day.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

SoCal Bred — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 23:41:16 GMT

While we were visiting my hubby's family in NY in May 2015, we visited the Ground Zero memorial, inside was very dark, solumn, emotional, while walking around the museum, you could almost hear whispering, moaning, very eerie. It is something that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

hckynut — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 02:55:58 GMT

@Mominohio

I have a memory of Pearl Harbor, not the year, but the years that followed. I remember well the Cold War with the Soviet Union and Nuclear weapons.

Exactly where I was when I heard President Kennedy had been Assassinated. Watched live on TV when Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald. It was a Sunday and my mom and I were just getting home from church. I see that like it was yesterday.

President Kennedy was Assassinated while I still had almost a year left to serve in the United States Army. Served a total of 6 years, from 1958-1964 in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserves.

I of course remember September 11,2001, and exactly where I was and what room. Because the number of years has a zero behind it, does not make a big difference to me.

I remember it as much every year since it happened. And as fate would have it, I suffered my 2nd heart attack on September 12, 2007, which adds to my sad memory of the day before.

As FDR said in 1941 "a date which will live in infamy". 🇺🇸🇺🇸

hckynut

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

Irish1210 — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:40:52 GMT

I was in front of a classroom of 11 year old children ~

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

maximillian — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:47:59 GMT

I was in a classroom of senior high students. Some of them were genuinely afraid and frightened . For example, one of my students told me her father was in the town where Flight 93 came down in Pennsylvania. Fortunately, he was not affected. I went to a local church service that evening. People spoke about their adult children living and working in New York City and their fears about their safety. Again, everyone we knew was safe. Thank heavens.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

roeroe1005 — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:22:24 GMT

I was working in Rye Brook, NY. My boss watched CNBC every day, and I brought his WSJ in, as I did every morning. I glanced at the TV and saw Tower 1 on fire. At first I thought they were showing a repeat of the 1993 hit of the WTC. But that was in February and it was snowing ...

My friend, who worked in Tower 2 on the 44th floor, and I were scheduled to leave for Los Angeles at 8:15a on September 12. Our friend worked for ABC and we were going to the Emmy's with her that weekend. As my boss and I watched the second tower get hit, I let out a scream. I ran out of his office to try to get a hold of Gina. Thank G@d she had not gone in that day.

My office was close to Westchester County Airport. All I remember was how quiet it was outside; it was very eerie. My boss left soon after the 2nd tower was hit; he told me to leave too. I was terrified to drive home not knowing what was out there.

I remember finally getting in touch with my sister. She said to call our parents to let them know I'm ok as they thought my flight was that day and I was dead.

I have not gone to the memorial yet. Still can't do it. One of my former co-workers was engaged to one of the firemen killed that day. She donated one of his uniforms. This will be the first time in 19 years that I will not be able to attend a memorial service. I'm upset about that.

AmericanWoman, I pray you will find peace.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

decaf — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:27:24 GMT

I was in doctor's waiting room near home in Florida when it came on the TV. I saw it live when second plane hit, I was sick. I had visited the brand new towers the first day they opened in 1972(?). I'm a NYC girl. I've had many family members in the NYPD and NYFD.

I just knew Florida would be involved somehow (I have premonitions) and I was correct. Some of the terrorists took flight lessons at a small private airport less than one mile from our home. They lived amongst us in our Fl communities.

Soon after 9/11, one of our closr neighbors was killed when he opened a letter laced with anthrax at work. It was national news.

I have never gotten over this and never will.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

on the bay — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:45:51 GMT

@decaf,

I'd forgotten about those flight lessons. Now I'm remembering. Horrifying to realize that.

I don't think any of us will ever forget

that day.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

dancing 522queen — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 07:09:44 GMT

I was home that day and turned on the TV and saw the horror, I thought I would die. My husband was working down there on 9/11 and I could not reach him on his cell phone for hours. Finally he was able to call me let me know he was okay, he was right there and saw the planes hit the Towers. His brother who worked for the MTA, was down there working and he helped so many people coming out of the Towers. They both were there for hours helping so many people.

I lost a very good friend that day, he worked for the NYPD Emergency Services, he died as a result of the terrorist attack. He was one of the first to respond in attempting to rescue victims trapped in the WTC. He was reported missing, and his body was not found. NO! I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY.. Our Flag hangs everyday in out home.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

Patriot3 — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:50:04 GMT

I was home, had the TV on in my bedroom as I was getting dressed. Absolutely knocked me for a loop. Saw the people jumping and the towers falling.

All I wanted to do was fold up and pray. I was all alone and called one of my kids who was watching the same thing. What a horrible day. NEVER WILL FORGET!!!

And yes, I fly my flag every day!

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

RetRN — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:51:00 GMT

I was at work.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

brandiwine — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:59:39 GMT

Our son worked in tower 2. I was watching the Today show so I watched both towers get hit. There are no words to explain how I felt. Couldn't contact our son of course. His company was based in Denver and they called to see if we had heard from him. He & another employee weren't with the rest of the group. Many hours later he called and was safe. We were so lucky and blessed. Since then we all have dealt with survivor's guilt. This is a very difficult day for all of us.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

Boehm Collector — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 14:07:05 GMT

@HonestLife .. I will never forget that awful day. I was in Weehawken, NJ ...... and had a great view of the Towers. I lost two friends who were Port Authority Police Officers: John Skala and Alfonse Niedermeyer. Al's wife gave birth to their daughter a few months later. Neither had known she was pregnant at the time of Al's death.

Re: 20 Year Anniversary of 9/11…

ECBG — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 18:22:15 GMT

When the twin towers were attacked, I was a teacher with high school students, we saw almost all of the coverage since we had televisions in our room.

My students immediately looked to me for answers as we saw the live news coverage.

I had been in the twin towers just the previous year with a group that had flown up for a "girl's weekend".