story7378.xml

story7378.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-14

I was returning to my office from a meeting when one of our assemblers came up to me and told me that an aircraft had flown into the World Trade Center. My reply was "How can that happen; the two tallest buildings in New York. This is a joke right?" Steve told me it was no joke, so I went to my office then walked into the conference room in time to see CNN. I was shocked and sadden. But then they showed the second aircraft fly into the other tower and I just wept, I just couldn't believe that it happened. It was like watching an action thriller movie like Die Hard, but this....it really happened. My next reaction was to return to my office and I immediately called my reserve squadron to see if we were going to be recalled.
Three months later, after I was transfered to a Naval Support Unit in New Orleans, I was mobilized for a year to perform Security on the base. I am now approaching the end of that year, and I can honestly say that my life has been changed. I have a deeper respect for my active duty counterparts, and the other souls who have been taken from their everyday lives to fulfill their country's call. I for one feel that the people who have been activated for Homeland Defense deserve an applaude and a Thank You. You may not been in some foreign country or in harms way, but you are here defending and protecting us at home and this reservist would like to say Thank You!! Your efforts have not gone un-noticed!