story5771.xml

story5771.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

I am a medical secretary at a rehab hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 90 miles from New York City. I was sitting at my desk and thought I'd listen to the 9 AM news. When I turned on the radio, I heard that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I thought how could anyone hit a tower with a plane. The pilot must have had a heart attack.

Just a few seconds later, it was announced that a second plane had hit the second tower. Immediately I realized that this could not be a coincidence. I ran through the hallway of the hospital. Everyone else was sitting at their desks, working calmly. I was the only one on my floor that knew about what was going on. I quickly found a doctor working at a computer and told him what had happened. He looked up at me and said one word, "terrorists".

I quickly ran back to my desk and called my daughter in California, leaving a message for her as she was still sleeping. Her husband is in the Navy and they are on a naval base, so I was very concerned for them. Then I called my son to make sure he was okay. Then I spoke with my mother. She was concerned that everyone in the family was okay. We assured each other that everyone in my family was safe. I thought about my Dad, who had passed away several years before. He was a Patriot, he loved his country. He fought in the 2nd world war and taught his children duty, honor, country. What would he think about the events of 9/11? I felt relieved that he was not here to witness the tragedy, that ripped all of our hearts open wide. It would have upset him so much.

I will never forget that moment in my life. Quickly the word began to spread throughout the hospital and we all gathered in front of the TV to watch in horror. As I look back on that day, I know that none of us really comprehended what was actually taking place in front of our eyes.

I drove home quickly that afternoon, went into my garage, and searching, found a small American flag that was there on the shelf, along with all the other junk in the garage. I took that flag and marched down my driveway and shoved it into the ground in front of the mailbox with great force, cursing the terrorists. I still was not really sure of what had happened, I just felt that I had to put the flag out. Mine was the first house in the neighborhood to have the flag flying. I am proud of my flag.

Thank you for giving me this chance to relate my tiny little insignificant story. This event has truly changed me and the way I look at things. I mourn every one who died that day, the children, the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, loved ones. I especially mourn the injury to my country. How could anyone ever hurt my country, the country that I love so much. Lastly, I want to say,

I AM AN AMERICAN... GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY.