story2990.xml

story2990.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

My morning routine consisted of getting my two children off to school ... at 8:46 AM on September 11, 2001, I stood in the kitchen of my Del Ray home making lunches and watching Good Morning America just as I had done the day before. A Special Report interrupted, and reported an airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center, at this time, no one suspected this to be an act of terrorism. I watched as much as I could, before having to leave for work. Once in the car, I turned the radio on to see if there were any updates and listened as I drove the short distance to my office in Old Town. When I arrived, few of my co-workers were aware of what had happened in New York. I turned on my radio; and it was then we realized the seriousness of what that day would hold. A second plane had now struck the other tower of the World Trade Center in New York. It was obvious this was no accident. Next, closer to home, a plane was reported to have crashed into the Pentagon which is a short distance from Old Town. No one knew what to expect next, it seemed the world around us was out of control. My thoughts immediately turned to my family. My children, my husband and my parents ? where were they at this moment and were they safe? Were they scared? We could hear the jets flying overhead and the sound of sirens. It was then reported that another plane had crashed in a field in Pennsylvania ? it was believed this plane was bound for Washington DC.
Our office crowded around a small television that we set up to monitor what was happening. We shuffled between the TV reports and our desks trying to telephone family members. Parents were calling their children?s schools. The phone lines were so overloaded; many calls could not go through. Cell phone signals were also down. We felt so helpless. One by one we broke ourselves away from the news reports and decided to venture out and attempt to make it home. Parents with children headed to schools to pick up their kids ? everyone wanted to be with and know their loved ones were safe. I was one of those parents that immediately went to pick up my children ? only to try and explain how all of this could have happened. I can only hope I never again have to see that fear in my children?s eyes.
Soon after, A State Of Emergency was declared in our area and it was mandatory that everyone be off the roads and in their homes. I never imagined Old Town Alexandria could be so desolate, and an even stranger sight was that of military vehicles patrolling our streets and fighter jets overhead.
Once home, I stayed in front of the television watching the continuous news coverage and could not believe my eyes as the Pentagon burned and the Twin Towers crumbled to the ground. How could this be happening? All of the poor innocent people .. The Men, the Women and the Children. Their families. What they must be feeling. Their grief, Their Anger and Their Pain. I cried for the wives whose husbands would not be coming home, and for the husbands who would not again see their wives. I cried for the parents who lost their children, and made sure I hugged my own children twice as long at bedtime that night, and thanked God I had the chance to do so.
I am ashamed to admit that it took the events of September 11, 2001, for me to purchase an American Flag to display on my home, however, it has been flying there for one year, and shall continue in the years to come. This flag is very special to me. It will always be a symbol of Freedom; however, today, September 11, 2002 ? it also represents Life, Faith, Healing and Pride. God Bless America.