story5042.xml

story5042.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

We had gotten new equipment at work and we had to trainers there to show us the ropes. Because we have no radio or television where I work we were oblivious to what was going on. My mother called and asked if we had heard what was happening. She told us a plane had crashed into the WTC and they didn't know why. As she was speaking to me on the phone I remeber these chilling words "Oh my God ! Another plane hit the other tower !" The fear in her voice conveyed to all of us at work what we could not see on television. I hung up and we scrambled to find a TV or radio. Luckily (I guess) we came up with both and were abel to witness the unfolding horror. Then a nother call a palne had hit the Pentagon. Just a few months earlier my wife and I were honored to be in that building as my best frined retired from 20 years in the military. His ceremony was hel very near where the plane hit the Pentagon. Because my frined now worked on government contracts in the civilian sector my thoughts were of him and if he was possibly in Washington. Also friends that we met through him, a husband and wife, both worked in the Pentagon. Were they safe ? I quickly called my friends wife in Georgia and after several frantic attempts was able to reach her. Yeas, my friend was in Washington, but was safe. The ohter couple were safe also - she was working at a differnet location and he literally ran for his life from the smoke and flames. After getting home that night and hugging my family we spent the next days glued to the TV as I am sure much of the nation did. Tears came easily for all of us over the next few days. Even today, a year later I found myslef welling up over the events. As everyon is saying we must honor all of the victims by moving on, but WE MUST NEVER FORGET.