story4382.xml

story4382.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

At about 8:40am, I turned to cable TV Channel 11 to listen to my favorite morning program called, 'Life in the Word'. Instead, there was a news bulletin hastily being conducted and stintingly presented by reporters who had to keep saying the same thing over and over because their news sources were being deluged, but so little was yet verified. Then suddenly, distant video images of the tall WTC building with smoke coming out the top and side of it. My phone rang. It was my husband calling from work with instructions to turn on the TV. I told him I was watching it, and hung up to call a nearby friend to let her know. As I witnessed the people running away in terror in NY, I knew I was viewing an awesome tragedy. The people were trying so hard to run as fast as possible, yet look behind to see if the building was falling on them. It DID fall on many unable to exit fast enough. All I could say was, "Oh no, oh no!" as I helplessly watched another airplane fly straight into the second tower. As I began to pray for the families of those whose loved ones were in that airplane, the whole first building suddenly collapsed. It seemed to happen so quickly for such a large building. Hours were like minutes and minutes were like seconds. I began to pray protection for our President, who was himself now in an airplane. I was so thankful to hear that the President did not have to decide to shoot down Flight 93 because it crashed when heroic passengers rushed the terrorists. I was so thankful that even though they got part of the Pentagon, they didn't get the White House. I was so thankful that emergency procedures were being carried out by all in authority. I was stricken with all the bulletins, before my TV set, in my home, and it wasn't a movie...it was really happening. I went to my church to pray with others. I was convicted of what it is to pray without ceasing...for those bereaved. I thank God for my home, my husband, my children and most of all, my country. I may have lost none of these in the 911 tragedy myself, but I might have were it not for my country. Today was the very sensitive 1 year anniversary remembrance ceremony. Tastefully, they took THREE HOURS...THREE HOURS to remember the names of those who died in the 911 attack. They started reading at 8:30am and ended at 11:25am. The reading of the Gettysburgh Address was so extremely appropriate and our President was resolute. Terrorism will end...America will end it.