story6526.xml

story6526.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I was 3 months pregnant at the time and my boss came to me to tell me that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. We went to the breakroom and watched TV. My first thought was mechanical problem, and then the second plane hit. I could not believe my eyes. My heart sank and I could hardly speak. I work in the Maintenance & Engineering department at an airline and we all began to scramble to find out where all of our planes were and how to get them out of the sky as quickly as possible. We were finally able to account for all of our aircraft. They were all safely on the ground and all of our crew members and passengers were safe. We continued to watch the coverage that day and that evening I went home to pick up my 2 year old son and I hugged him so hard that I was almost afraid I would hurt him. I joined my husband and parents later that evening and I just remember looking at my small son and the son which I was carrying and thinking that the world would never be the same. My two boys will never know what it was like to live in the USA before September 11, 2001. I cried until I could not cry anymore. I returned to work the next day only to witness no commotion on the runway (which is a very erie feeling when you hear planes take off and land all day every day). We, my co-workers and myself, leaned on each other that day and the months to follow. I keep thinking that I don't know how someone can feel that much hate to want to kill so many innocent people and leave so many tiny lives changed forever.

I pray every day for the heroes of that day. I include in that list of people: firefighters, police, victims, survivors of the fallen, and our government. I also believe that all Americans are heroes, because we have picked up and tried to get things as close to pre 9/11/01 as possible.

God Bless American and all Americans!!!
Shelly Wright (mother of 2, wife, daughter, sister, and friend)
Dallas, Tx