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....

[CTmomof3]

I was at work when I received a call from my husband. I could tell by the tone of his voice that something was terribly wrong. He was on the phone with a co-worker in TX who heard the news. He thought she was kidding until she told him to turn on his tv. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of that day and can hear my husband yelling into the phone as the towers burned My husband was a consultant for major coporation and had been working in Tower 2 a year. He decided to work from home for the summer and was scheduled to return to NYC on Sept 12. He had taken our family into NYC in Aug to show us where he worked .Luckily no one he knew was lost that day however there was very scary few days. I will never ever forget that day nor the impact it has had on our lives. My husband has his WTC2 badge, pictures we took when we went to ground Zero in Nov 2001as well of other items in a special box .

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

I was on a cruise in the middle of the pacific ocean. We were closed down on all information. No internet, no phone service to the states. All we saw was a loop news feed of the airplanes hittting the towers, and the towers falling. No newscaster, just images.
The next day we got to Mexico and that was the first time we saw and heard newscasts. The only American news we could find was at a Hooters. It seemed like the whole ship was crammed into that Hooters.
We were not able to call home to check on loved ones. And were told we could not fly home because the airports were all closed.
We ended up floating outside American waters for 3 days waiting to get back to San Diego. The coolest thing was to watch the *frogmen in the zodiak's climb aboard our ship*. We were only allowed to stay in 2 hugh rooms after they got aboard. Ones with American passports and ones without. It took 4 hours for US imigration/Military to start letting people off the ship.
Now this is when it gets *real* for us ~ We get off the ship and there is Red Cross giving us hugs, Welcoming us home. Every car had US flags on the, everyplace was God Bless America. It was an amazing site. We ended up having to evacuate LAX airport because of a bomb threat. I felt like we left one America and came home to a different America.
To this day I do not feel the trauma like so many others do ~ I never saw the horrors unfold like so many of you did ! I saw the other perspective ~ how we lock down our land. How we go into protection mode.

[Linda E./Justin div 161]

Beautiful account' of our USA welcoming home their own. It must have been So sureal' out there in the ocean........just waiting.........

[Navy for Moms Admin]

I was in college and promptly in my 9 am anthropology class. (My professor was a stickler about arriving on time.) We in the middle of comparing monkey skulls and one of the students came in late.

“There was a big building hit in New York."

To my professor that meant nothing- we were talking about important evolution skull stuff here! :oP He told him to sit down and we continued on with the rest of class. Sure I heard a few whispers- but the kid didn't have details... so it made me think he was lying.

I had a two-hour break before my next class so I went back to my dorm. I remember walking down my hall. Everyone had their doors open. But everyone was quiet. I saw images on the TV- and I swear to you I thought they were watching that movie with Will Smith- Men In Black. Strange… I never thought that movie was that popular…(Duh!) And then I remembered the kid in my class who I thought made up the reason to be late.

I walked into my room. My roomies were in a daze watching the TV. I finally understood.

And who was the first person I wanted to call? My mom! When I did- she said that my cousin who lives in NYC is fine. Classes ended up being canceled that day and I was glued to the TV. Watching everyone (from local news to MTV) caught off guard. It was a surreal day in front of our crappy dorm TV. One day, that even if I tried- I couldn’t forget.

[Jean C]

The phone rang and a voice said "turn the tv on". I watched a few seconds and immediately called my son that was on his way thru NYC to reach his tugboat on Staten Island. Remember saying "MIke call me immediately, this is Ma!". He called right back and said he had just come thru NYC and as he was parking his Jeep in the company parking lot.. they looked up and saw the first plane hit the WTC. They were later activated to transport people out of NYC. I knew what was coming, and immediately started packing my suitcase. The call came about an hour after the second plane hit, and was asked to go to NYC. I remember the tv reporters asking their questions "what will this be like" and for the first time, I had no answers. I had no idea what to expect. Instead of sending me into the city, we went to Stamford, Ct. to work in a command center.
Many of my volunteers headed right into the city to provide Mass Care/ meals/ mental health, etc., and I am so grateful to all the fine folks that volunteered to go wherever they were needed. The next few days I was in contact with both my son and some of our volunteers working in the city. What they were witnessing was both astounding and heartbreaking. Almost everyone described it as walking thru a war zone. God bless every person that gave their time and talent to assist thru those horrible days.

[Linda E./Justin div 161]

And God Bless you and yours' for all your help that day and the days that followed. All these stories make that day come ALIVE' all over.

[Bernadette]

I was at school and walking down the staircase near the library. The principal called us in and had a TV on so we could watch. We saw the second plane hit. We discussed how to deal with the children since we knew some would come knkowing at least something about it. I wanted to run to my kids school but we all knew we had to stay and keep the day as normal as possible. Many children were picked up by parents. Knowing family and friends who worked in the towers added to the urge to panic. We all knew things would never be the same. How lucky we have been to enjoy our freedom. It is rare.

[kim]

My husband was in Pennsylvania on a run(over the road truck driver then). I was watching the Golden Girls and he called me and said someone hit the towers. I was shocked and scared too. At that time we didn't know much and wasn't sure if more than one target was going to be hit. I rememeber I couldn't pull myself away from the TV for the next few days it was like this can not be happening to our country. I pray that all our children will continue to be safe and our country will remain strong against terrorism.

[Lou S]

I was drinving to my daughter's school that morning after having worked the night shift at the hospital - I am a RN. She was attending a parochial school at that time, and she was going to be doing one of the readings at mass that morning, as that day was her golden birthday. So, each year, after that awful day, we as a family are reminded that in spite of terrible tragedies, God does give us the resources and ability to find the good in our lives - we have that reminder in our beautiful daughter Anna who is an adult today. Take care - Lou.

[JunieB]

We live on the west coast, so it was very early morning. Usually I don't get up when my husband does, but I did that morning for some reason and fixed his breakfast. As he was finishing getting ready for work I turned on the TV and the first plane had just hit. I thought it was a smallish plane, like in that Paul Williams movie. My husband took one look and said "Nope, that hole is too big, that was a terrorist attack". Well, I am an innocent naive person and figure, no way, he is just being paranoid. As he was driving down the driveway the second plane hit before my eyes. I was stunned, he was right and I cried for all those people. I had to get the kids up & ready for school, thinking back I don't know why, routine I guess. The whole time we were all glue to the TV. At one point Matthew was telling me "mom come see, Mom come see!" I told him, "Matthew, I been watching all morning" "No Mom! the building is coming down!" That was the worst thing I have ever seen. we all said a prayer for those poor people trapped inside cause we knew there was no way they could have all gotten out yet. I am kind of glad I sent the kids to school that day, I spend the whole day crying and praying. The kids went to a Christian school and they also spent the day praying for the families and people. It was such an awful day.

[Tammy C]

I was at work. I work in a field office for a Department of the Army installation so those of us who were deemed non-essential were sent home. I was tempted to go to school and get my children just so I knew they were safe.

The hardest thing was this was 4 days before I was to be married. I had so much guilt for having to go on with what was the happiest day of my life while the whole country was in turmoil.

For our honeymoon we drove from PA to SC and I was overwhelmed by the show of support for our country with the display of flags everywhere! And I was also overwhelmed as we saw many troops being moved in the form of huge convoys of military vehicles.

I got a letter from my son today and he is having a hard time. But, I will write him back today, Patriot Day, and remind him how much all he is going through is so important for the future of the country and to draw strength from that.

[Jan, (A Southern Belle!)]

I was chatting online with my son-in-law about their trip to NEW YORK that they were supposed to be leaving on the very next day! I asked him if he was excited and he said, "Go turn on the t.v. We won't be going now!" I thought he was being funny and finally he called and said, "TURN ON THE TV". I'll never forget, almost as soon as I turned it on, the 2nd plane went into the building and I thought was watching some movie that was being previewed. The shock of that is still as vivid today as it was then....Then, that night, our church held a special Prayer Vigil and to hear my friends sobs and prayers was something I will forever remember. As a member of the Body of Christ as well as Americans we held hands and prayed for our sister state NYC and Washington DC and for those who died in the planes. I, too, will never forget....God bless those who are still suffering the pain and loss on Sept. 11, 2001......Jan