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#565 | Saturday, December 22nd, 2001
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Today, 23 December, 2001 I recall... I was in the back yard burning old financial records. My wife hollard at me "come here". It was not a request. When I was about 15 feet from her, she told me that a plane had hit one of the towers at the New York World Trade Center. I KNEW it was not an accident, and pointing to the date on my watch, told her "today, it's 911". We went inside to watch CNN and when the second plane hit, we both knew that America was under attack, that things would never be the way they were that morning when we woke up.
We both prayed individually and together for every plane pasenger, crew member, emergency worker, victim, and family member involved. We prayed for the counselors, and the leadership of this country. We prayed for strength, favor, and wisdom for our President, Vice-President, Secretaries of State, Defense, and the Congress.
As soon as we could get things together, we went to town to meet in our church to pray some more.
My mind went to 1963 in San Diego, when President Kennedy was shot...76 ships cleared that harbor in less than four hours, without one single accident. I was there...aboard a Navy destroyer.
I didn't sleep very much that night and I still don't sleep real sound. I did not have to do a lot of soul searching to find out if I was wrong for wanting revenge. I don't want revenge, I want justice.
In the next couple of days, I called each of my girls and told them that I love them, and I held the grandkids that I could, and I told my wife that I only love Jesus more than her.
I sent email to my congressmen and the White House to let them know that I do not want Bin Laden (or his helpers or supporters) brought to American soil for any kind of trial or safekeeping because I could not ask any American to guard their safety or protect their "rights". I likened it to the gazillion bucks that Timothy McVey and Terri Nichols costs.
I have gone through a whole range of emotions, but the one that stays the strongest is anger. For that reason, I contacted Washington DC as soon as possible to find out about volunteering for recall to active duty.
I am a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer with over 30 years active duty (60-90) and very well qualified to help drive navy ships. I can't pass the physical, but I can push a lot of paper and train younger sailors. Now, over 100 days later, and I still pray and wait.
I want to thank those responsible for this web sight and tell a truth... "Bless God and He will bless you."
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Don | 58 | Oklahoma
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#566 | Sunday, December 23rd, 2001
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i was at work when the news broke. at first it looked like an accident, but after the second and third plan hit,the horror of it set in. how could any one do this to us, and why? we soon learned the answers to those questions. my feelings have tempered some what from 9/11. i no longer feel anger and distrust for every one of middle eastern decent, but i don't know if i will ever be as unbiased as i once was. and just how do you explain to a 6 year old grand daughter a horror that she should never have been exposed to? i have changed some things in my life. i donated money to the rescue effort, have american flags in my car windows, and at home. i now only buy stamps with flags on them. i watch the news every night, to listen and learn. little things, silly perhaps, but importent to me. i had even tried to see their point of view, but it always comes back to this. they have no point. they were, and are, evil bullies. i believe our response is appropriate, and i believe we should continue untill terrorism is no longer a threat.
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sharon | 54 | Pennsylvania
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#567 | Sunday, December 23rd, 2001
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working at a construction site, sometimes you don't hear the daily news until the end of the day. That day, my wife, who works in television, called me and told me that a plane had crashed into the first tower. She was watching live television and giving me the details when the second plane crashed (on live television). I immediately knew we were being attacked. The question in my mind though was it terrorism or the beginning of World War III. I still don't know the answer to that question, but I hope it was a senseless act of terrorism and the guilty will pay. For the rest of the day we worked along side of the radio that was blaring out of a work vehicle, and it was one of the longest days ever. We all just wanted to get home to our loved ones. That day will always be etched in my mind, not as the day America was attacked, but when America had a major wake-up call that we are not untouchable and that freedom will not be easy.
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Aaron | 27 | Kentucky
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#568 | Sunday, December 23rd, 2001
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On Sept. 11, 2001, I was on my daily 90 minute bus commute to work 20 miles south of Seattle @ 8 am pacific standard time...when I arrived after 9 am @ my work office a few people were walking in hushed tones between 2 adjacent office bldgs @ our company's work site but they seemed to be quieter than was their personal norms @ work.
I thought something big or unusual is going on but having just gotten off a long commute with no one saying aloud yet what had happenned to me personally I watched & waited from my small work cubicle inside 1 of the aforementioned 2 office bldgs to find a chance to ask what IS IT that is being talked about...
At first the thought shared was that the airplanes were crashed due to accidents but soon after to allay panic among coworkers management hushed up talk until the authoritative news reports came in closer to noon pacific standard time...ohhh no...it was a terrorist attack and many innocent lives were lost etc etc...I thought of the time in 1963 as a 10 yr old school girl I'd seen my 5th grade teacher come in tears to collect students from our playground while an unusual unscheduled recess bell rang to alert ALL Students to return to classrooms IMMEDIATELY for an announcement about the assassination of then President John F. Kennedy...this day will be as it was on 11/22/63 a day that many will recall EXACTLY where, what & why they were doing specific daily activities when a act of major significance caught the attention of a large portion of the American public simultaneously and even quite a sizable portion of the global eye as well...ie Great Britain, France, etc. I now am more committed than ever that Freedom is never Free and vigilance is important if we as a free country are to retain the privileges and rights we enjoy as listed in the American Bill of Rights as well as the Constitution of the USA. With our freedoms come responsibilities as well as awarenesses of who we are in relationship to others in the world. Knowing our place as Americans in the world at large we can better appreciate what we have as well as how non-Americans view us...this knowledge must be used wisely to preserve our way of life for generations to come as well as befriend our allies and admirers in other countries! Although I was born a citizen as were my parents I love the USA and cherish the life it has made possible to me to live so far...there is no better place to live on this globe! I pray that other Americans will not take it for granted what we enjoy as citizens in the USA now.
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Helenann | 48 | Washington
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#569 | Sunday, December 23rd, 2001
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When the actual attacks happened, i was in Glasgow attending a University Open Day Visit with friends.
I had gotten home from the trip and ran upstairs - as i usually do - went online and turned on the t.v. I got an instant message from a friend asking me if i was watching the t.v, and i said i was just turning it on - and there it was, that horrific scene of burning and destruction.
It will be a day that i will be able to remember clearly. A day that i will be able to remember my every action afterwards. A day that will hold a place in my heart for victims and families.
God Bless.
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Ross | 16 | United Kingdom
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