story5876.xml

story5876.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I remember what a glorious morning it was. Just a beautiful day. As a child a day my mother called a "washed eyeball day". As if you got up and washed your eyeballs. I did my usual routine and got my two sons ready for school. My husband a Limo Driver was home until about 10am. So he helped me ready the children for their day. I left the house at the usual time and delivered both boys to their schools. When driving the youngest to pre school, I first heard that a plane had hit one of the buildings at World Trade Center. Figuring it was a small plane hoping all would be well. I took my son into school and told his teachers what I had heard. I anxiously drove home hoping my husband had not left early for work. He was to drive to New York City today, into the driveway, he met me outside and said the tower had been hit. This was no accident. So I ran into the house and watched the first plane hit the tower from a previous tape. I sat in amazement and realized it was no small plane. The feelings that overcame me, witnessing it second hand was unbelievable. I was in total shock. I have a cousin in the city and she was the first to come to mind. My husband had thoughts of people he had taken to stay at the Marriott at the World Trade Center and the businessmen in the past. I knew my cousin would be fine. She lived and worked far north in Manhattan. I no sooner sat and watched in horror and my thoughts and prayers went to all who were in the buildings. I prayed so hard for everyone to be able to climb down to safety. Not 20 minutes went by and my husband and I saw the second plane hit the other tower. I knew for sure, it was no accident! Whoever was responsible had this planned and it was deliberate. I remember being very sad and very scared. What and where would be next.
We choose to live in a very rural area of the state of PA and felt we would be protected from such events should they ever occur. I didn't feel safe at all. Even living where we do. About 1 hour north of Harrisburg, our state capital. After that second plane hit, I said to my husband, you are not going to New York City today. We have a Sattelite TV and our local news is directly from NY City. Not too many minutes had passed and the news broke of the plane that hit the Pentagon. We were then very scared. Then the news of flight 93 in PA. It was horrifying. So many lives lost in a two hour period. All I wanted was to be with my children. However at their ages of 4 & 8 I didn't want to pull from school and scare them. So we let them stay. How as a parent can I explain this when I don't understand it myself.
Needless to say, my husband was called off from his job, and put on call. He received several calls thru the day of possible jobs. There were people stranded in Colorado that wanted to come home and couldn't fly. So they called the business for someone to pick them up. They immiediately sent a limo to get them. Fortunately it was not my husband. The last place I wanted him to be was away from us that day.
We sat glued to the tv for hours, waiting and hoping. I had said almost immediately after the first plane hit. The building was going to collapse. And they just kept showing more Firemen and help going towards the buildings. Not long after the first building collapsed. It was the closest thing to a war I have ever witnessed. Fortunately being 35 at the time. I have very few memories of Vietnam. It was terrifying, I just sat and cried.
I did not move from the couch for over 24 hours, I was numb. My husband cared mostly for the children when they arrived home from school. I officiate field hockey and had a game scheduled for the day. It was called off in the afternoon. Thank God, I don't think I could have done the game. During the day I was trying to think of a reason for the schools to play a game that day. I was rehearsing what I would sayin the pre game captains circle. It just seemed so stupid to play a game today of all days. It wasn't a day for rivals or competing. It was a day to be with my family and for everyone else to be with theirs.
As I sat all day I asked my husband how long do you think it will take before we find out we know someone that has been killed today. We figured it would not be long. With his job, he drives to the city at least two days a week. He has taken many business persons in and around the towers and to JFK and Newark. We were waiting with such grief and waiting for the phone to ring at anytime about someone we knew. I am originally from NJ an hour away from the city and have a large family. We were waiting and watching.
It didn't take long. The next morning all off to work and school except me, I am a homemaker. The phone rang in the morning around 10am. It was my mother. She called to tell me Bobby Dolan had died at the Pentagon. A person I did not even think of. He was a young man I knew from about the age of 9 or 10. He was a friend of the family. He dated my sister off and on for years while attending the Naval Academy. She sure loved this man. He was so special. I have memories of him Scuba Diving in our lake and fishing with my cousin and getting a lore stuck in my cousins head. Such memories flooded thru me. He was no ordinary young man, and as he grew I knew he would be nothing but wonderful and successful. My other sister is a Captain in the Navy and had, had the most recent contact with Capt. Robert Dolan. He had many tours out to sea and was married and had two children. I know he is sorely missed by so many.
I waited until the evening to call my sister that used to date Bobby. When I called she was still not aware of his death. So I told her. She was devistated to say the least. I thought my other sister would have told her and I knew she didn't know by the way she answered the phone. That night she got out all his old letters and sat and read them and grieved. After 12 years in her own marriage she kept the letters. That told me how much Bobby meant to her, and she to him.
9/11 is a day I will never forget for the rest of my life. A day my children will never forget either. They are young but I know it had a huge impact on them. We owe it to all who have died to never forget and to honor all the heroes, regardless if they were fire fighters, police, top execs, or restaurant workers, janitors etc. I know my life has been touched by all the stories of the husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends that died a death that was so cruel.
I pray our nation will go on as it has and not let the terrorists think they have won. I pray for World Peace, now more than ever before. This day has affected every person I know, and don't know. I pray nothing like this ever happens again.
In special memory of Captain Robert Dolan, USN. I know you are missed more than anyone can imagine. I pray your family will once heal from this terrible atrocity. I know you are definately one of their angels in heaven, watching over them.
God Bless America!!!