Where were you on September 11th...

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Kathy...PNM wrote a blog and I wanted to turn it into a thread- because I think it's a subject we can all talk about. – CC

Tomorrow marks the seventh anniversary of September 11, 2001. We will all take time to reflect and think about that horrible day that occurred seven years ago. I'm sure that we all remember where we were when we heard about the attacks and saw those unimaginable images on television. The friday before those horrible events my husband and I had become parents of a sailor...we had been to PIR that Friday before and were basking in the glow of that wonderful weekend of PIR when Septmeber 11th happened. We had gotten home the day before and were still in that wonderful place of pride and joy. We were still exhausted from that trip and my husband was taking a rare day to sleep in and I happen to have the television on and saw these terible events as they occurred I quickly woke my husband to tell him about these awful events. We watched in horror as these events unfolded and then it hit us hard what about our son the son that we had watched at PIR he was to fly out of Chicago that morning to go on to A School and we had not heard from him. This was the first time that we really and truly realized what it was going to be like to be military parents. He finally did call to tell us that he was safe and that he would not be flying to A School but that he would be bused there. I am not proud to admit this but I did ask him if he could get out of the Navy and his words will always ring in my ears when he said "Mom, I am now in the Navy and go where ever they send me this is what I signed up for, to be here for my country". I was ashamed...I was selfish...and then it hit me that there were so many people that were losing their lives that day and here I was being a self centered mom. My young son had it right he was now part of something bigger than himself he was willing to do whatever needed to be done for his country at whatever cost to himself. It was truly a day for my husband and I to reflect about what it was to be military parents..the worry..the pride..and the never knowing from day to day. That was seven years ago that son of ours is now out and working in the civlian world he is a better man for having served his country. Now here it is seven years later and our youngest now serves his country with the same attitude and pride in his country. I thank God everyday that there our men and woman out there working in the community that our willing to put their lives on the line for the rest of us..for me it will be a day to pray and remember those that lost their lives on that day. I thank God everday for this great country of ours where we all take such good care of each other....

[Navy for Moms Admin]

**Reposted:
Comment by Mother Mary 8/10/2008
I will never forget. Funny you say your husband was sleeping in, mine was too. He had a day off. I woke him and told him to look at the TV. He told me to let him sleep. I then said, no, you must wake up. He knew I was serious. My kids had already left for school. I wanted to find them and go hide. I didn't. I finished getting ready and left for work. What a different drive that was. Everyone was driving slower, being polite. It seemed we all knew our world had just changed.

[Karen Gallagher]

I was taking Jacob to a doc appt (he had broke his arm 2 days before) we were driving and they said that "what looked like a plane had hit the WTC" I looked at him and said it was a terrorist attack. When we were in the doc appt they told us that the second tower was hit.

Jacob and I were just talking about this last weekend as we were at the WTC site when we were in NYC. I told him and Jillian about the fact that I was going south with a friend 4 days after that day and I saw first hand (from the interstate) the site and the trucks that were removing the debris. What an experience that was to see then an now.

I know that I thank god that we were safe and every time I get on a plane I do think of those that lost their life that day on a plane and in the towers.

[Linda E./Justin div 161]

I was, as usual up with the t.v. on after just sending off my sons to school. I can remember thinking,after the 2nd plane hit and being clued to my t.v. through ALL of it, that "something" was JUST not right... Later when the news reports starting coming in on the Enormous abouts of people involved and just what the impacts would mean, I remember crying, just crying for all the SENSELESS deaths. After finding out it was Terrorists and WHAT it ment to the USA, I called my mom first, the school next(remember wanting to GET my KIDS HOME with me, But mom talked me out of it) and then went and sat with my good friend who had a younger brother enlisted(Marines) and just 1 month out of BC. Later, her mom came by also and we just cryed and asked WHY, and FELT the real terror ,thinking her son (brother) could be going to war....EVEN at that time, I knew...We all did. He did go serve, back twice since. I remember that Christmas being so very, very diffucult for them! Tomorrow, I will reflect on all this war has cost us, on all those lives it and THAT day has cost so many. I will wonder if I too, will watch MY sons go to fight for this war? God Bless all who have lost, all who have served, and all who stand by them.

[LynneRav]

I was working from home and I saw the news on the internet of the first crash. I thought it HAD to be a terrible accident. Then the news of the others came. I was Instant Messaging with a friend who lives in DC and all of a sudden she just disappeared! Her route home was past the Pentagon (although she was obviously re-routed that day). I could not reach her and it really frightened me. MANY hours later I got the news from her husband that she had gotten home safely.

My older son was home on leave from the USMC and he was worried about a friend who worked at the Pentagon. As fate would have it, his friend had called in sick and was not there that day. But because you could not get a line through, Stephen did not find that out until the next day.

I was in NYC last year and saw Ground Zero for the first time. Overwhelming.

[Hayley Pierce]

I took the day off to go to the doctor, but was at the laundry mat early doing laundry before my appointment. It was unbelieveable at the time. It sort of felt like I was dreaming it all. Unreal. I cried for weeks afterward for no reason at all. I remember having nightmares previous to the attack. I told my friend that I felt in my spirit that something terrible was about to happen. I couldn't believe it when I heard the news that morning. I will never forget thats for sure. It is definately one of those days in history that we will remember forever. I still pray for all the families as well as my son, who is in the Navy along with my friends who are still in. HMP

[T's mom]

I was at my husbands business.Him and my father in law had machines going and I was in the office doing paper work.All of a sudden I heard them say OH my God and the machines quit running.Something you don't want to hear at a machine shop.I thought there had been a accident in the shop.I ran to them not expecting to see them both in a trance staring at the Tv,We just all stood there in shock.
Then I realized my niece was a on a ship in the gulf.She was a marine at the time.She was getting ready to get out in a few weeks and they changed her orders ,before then and she was actually in the states when it happened.I found this out after calling my sister.I also have a brother in NY.He was in the subway when it happened.He is 25 year Navy guy.He went into soldier mod after getting out of the subway and it still took him almost 2 hours to get to a phone, to let us know he was ok.My kids were at school and I went and got them I just needed them to be home.

[Heather Ryan]

I will always remember that morning, it was a beautiful clear day, not a cloud in the sky . We live about 20 min. outside of the city. I was watching Good morning America because Princess Ferrgi was going to be on and all of a sudden they interupted with the news that aplane had hit the World trade center. then our t.v. went black, we changed to a cable channel and saw the smoke and flames. fire engine everywhere. My oldest son was leaving to go downtown to Hunter college for classes and i ran outside after him and told him to come back in the house, not to go to the city. we watched t.v. for a little awhile more and the I told my husband i was going to get our other two sons from high school. there were reports of other planes in the area and rumors of attempted attacks at other important buildings. later we found out that the pentegon was hit by one of those planes.My husband brother was in the navy at the time and had meeting there quit often. (his is now a ret. admrial from subs).All I wanted to do was get my family together that morning so, i drove over tothe high school and from there we can see new york city skyline, I'm sorry I ever went we saw the last building fall and the cloud of smoke I will never forget that day or any other Sept. 11 as long as i live. all we could do that day was pray. And now i pray for all of our sons and daughters who have joined our armed forces, and are fighting for ours and other peoples freedom. Always remember to thank them and always thank our war vetrans from ww II, korea, and veitnam for your freedom god bless....

[Jackie]

I was at work and my daughter that works at home called me to tell me, at the same time one of the guys that I work with heard it on the radio.One of the gals at work has a very small TV that all 15 of us got around and watched in horror. We watched for most of the morning. At noon the owner of our company told us all to go home to be with our families and pray.I watched TV late into the night that night praying that they would save more and more people but sadly that did not happen. I Pray for our sons and daughters that have so bravely entered into the service of our country under such trying times. I pray that they all should remain safe in their duties and return home one day.God Bless them all.

[Kim]

I was getting the kids ready for school and had the news on. We were stationed in San Diego at the time and my husband was already at work. He called me and asked if I was watching tv and I said yes. Then he said he would be staying on base for a while and not to worry he would call later. My neighbor came over and we sat together watching in disbelief. After that day ,everywhere we went people would stop my husband and thank him for serving.Now ,I want say that to all who continue to do so including my own son.

[Dianne (Drew's Mom)]

On the morning of 9-11-01, I was having an abdominal hysterectomy and a major bladder repair. I awoke in the recovery room to the words (t.v. was on), "Someone has just declared war on the United States." I did not know who had declared war, what had happened, or where it happened. I fought to stay awake as I drifted in and out of consciousness. Each time I awoke, I heard snippets of information. I heard how a neighboring city had released all of its middle school students to go home. I wondered about my own (Drew) who was in eighth grade. Where the schools under attack I wondered? I asked for my husband. They said, "Not yet. You're not ready to go out yet." I wondered if my daughter and grandchildren were safe in Boston. I also wondered if my oldest was safe at the shipyard. But there was nothing I could do.

Finally I was brought out and my husband was waiting for me in the hallway. My parents were there, too. They had the t.v. on in my room. I couldn't go back to sleep. I couldn't fathom what had happened. I was shaking all over. They had to give me something to go back to sleep. I remember clearly looking out the window at the very bright blue sky and wondering how something like that could happen.

I was later told that my urologist's brother was a pilot for AA, and was flying that morning. He told me that his mom had called him out of the operating room several times while he operated on me because she was so worried. His brother is fine.

I will never, ever forget that day. It was horrible to wake up that way, horrible to find out what had happened, horrible to see all of those pictures and hear the stories on the news. Hearing that two of the hijackers had originated their flight in Portland, ME, about 20 minutes from us, was shocking beyond belief. Just knowing that such evil, such filth had walked near us was incomprehensible. I hope that we as a country, never have to relive something such as this again. However, people who think that we did not need a military need to remember that day. If we did not have a military, this would happen again, as well as much more horrible things. Freedom is something too may people take for granted. Freedom is not free.

[Pam]

Wow I will never forget that day. It was my b day and I have epilepsy. AT about the exact time the first plane hit I had a seizure and was rushed to the ER ... I remember coming too and hearing all the hustle and bustle about the trade center and that an airplane had hit... It wasn't actually unti that afternoon about 3 when i found out it hit twice and also the one in PA. I was glued to the tv when I wasn't sleeping( which is normal after a seizure to be very tired.) So it was a horrible day all the way around.

[Kim B.]

I remember that morning well. It was a beautiful September morning and I was driving to work. I heard the news on the radio and immediately called my husband. I was a visiting nurse at the time and I remember seeing the second plane hit while watching tv on a home visit. I called my mother after that visit and she informed me that my brother was working in NYC near the world trade center.

Living about an hour north of NYC we definitely felt like we were under attack and we were! I finished up whatever work needed to be done and I went to the bank and the grocery store to pick up things like money,batteries and water. Then I picked up my kids at school. It was scary and I wanted to know where my children were...I wanted them with me.

My brother was working across from the WTC that day. When the first plane hit they made an announcement in his building to stay put, but my brother saw the hit on the internet and decided that he did not want to be there anymore. He got out before the buildings collapsed and was fortunate enough to catch the last train heading towards our parts.

It was an unforgetable day. There was much heroism and a lot of fear and confusion. Thank you to all who have made the commitment to protect and serve. May GOD watch over them. Let us all be grateful for the blessings that we have, while we have them! 9-11-01 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!