story4047.xml

story4047.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I had just relocated to Virgina Beach, VA on September 4, 2001. Exactly one week prior to the bombings. I called my mother. I was afraid that I had awakened her. She told me she was up because a neighbor had just called her to tell her a plane had crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I told her that was impossible because the World Trade Center was a no fly zone. I turned on the television just in time to see the other plane heading for the other tower. "That's no accident" I told my mother. "That plane is intentionally flying into the tower". Then, the ball of fire. All my mother and I could say was "Oh my God, what is going on?" We watched the news together and then it happened - the towers collapsed! I remember crying so much I had to hang up the telephone. I remember saying over and over again "why, God, why?" Just one week prior to the horror I had lived in New York City. Just one week prior to the horror I had worked in New York City. Why was this happenening? All I could think of was all of those people still in those buildings. Why? I remember the pain was so intense in my chest that I could hardly breathe. Why was this happening?

One year to the day later, it still hurts. I still cry. The who has been answered, but still not the why. I pray for the families of the victims of 9-11 everynight. I pray that they remain strong and remember and know that the hearts, prayers and love of all Americans are with them. I have a new found respect for New York's Bravest (the New York City Fire Department). They lost more people than any other rescue squad. I have returned to New York since that day but I cannot go into lower Manhattan. I can't look towards the spot where the Towers used to stand. I can't remember them not being a part of the New York City skyline. After all this time, I still cry. I still hurt.

The only good thing that has come out of this tragedy is America has realized that we are all Americans. No matter what our ethnicity, we are all brothers beneath the skin. We have also learned that we are not inpenitrable to attack and we have learned that we are a country that responds to disaster by coming together. In God we trust and united, forever, we stand. God Bless America. God Bless us all.