story3739.xml

story3739.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

Like many of us, the telephone rang to awaken me to the day that would change America forever. A friend called ordering me to "turn on the television" to see what was happening in New York. Naturally I did. Like many others, the images of that first plane hitting the World Trade Center seemed too unbelievable to be genuine. I started looking for the "hoax" - perhaps another Orsen Wells "War of the Worlds" broadcast which would soon be interrupted with the message that this event was fictional and that no harm has come to anyone.

Then the 2nd jet crashed into the 2nd tower - live and before not only my eyes but millions of others. This was no media event - this was actually and unbelievably happening! Reports of a plane hitting the Pentagon in Washington were interlaced with events which were unfolding in New York. Talk about other planes in other parts of the country were beginning to filter in as well. The American Airlines jet in western Pennsylvania pierced into our reality.

Who could possibly be coordinating events of this magnitude and devestation? What kind of sick mind kills innocent people by the thousands? These and other answers would be slow to come to most Americans - but come they would.

America was never to be the same. The world was never to be the same.....and yet - our resolve has been strengthened and our determination to direct our own destinies has never been lessened by these horrendous events. America is strong and we were about to show the world just how strong we are and will always be.

David Mare