story4405.xml
Title
story4405.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-09-11
911DA Story: Story
My son and I were running late. I'd turned on the TV for background noise, my son taking his bath. A celebrity interview was interrupted and Brian Gumble began to tell what happened. I got my son in front of the TV and told him, "You will remember this day for the rest of your life."
We both will. I took him to school. The first tower fell.
I went to work. Kept going back to the breakroom to find out what had happened now. The news got worse and worse.
At Wal-Mart, 500 employees and 2,000 customers wandered around in shock, asking over and over, "What's happening?" when what we really wanted to know was, "How can this be real?"
As the shock wore off over the next few days, resolution took over. The perpetrators had to be brought to justice.
We wrapped ourselves in red, white and blue until the shelves were empty, even the ribbon. People who had let prejudices and grudges keep them from considering themselves American suddenly saw themselves as nothing but Americans. We all gave to the Relief Effort, money, time and blood.
In the last year a resolve has grown in me to get to know all the stories of all the individuals who died that day. This is my personal war on terrorism, because the terrorists thought their lives were worthless, insignificant. I read every story. I watch the memorials. I stare at the pictures. I will learn the value of each one who died. I will not give the victory to the monsters. I will hold the memories of these precious souls in my heart, a living memorial to September 11th.
We both will. I took him to school. The first tower fell.
I went to work. Kept going back to the breakroom to find out what had happened now. The news got worse and worse.
At Wal-Mart, 500 employees and 2,000 customers wandered around in shock, asking over and over, "What's happening?" when what we really wanted to know was, "How can this be real?"
As the shock wore off over the next few days, resolution took over. The perpetrators had to be brought to justice.
We wrapped ourselves in red, white and blue until the shelves were empty, even the ribbon. People who had let prejudices and grudges keep them from considering themselves American suddenly saw themselves as nothing but Americans. We all gave to the Relief Effort, money, time and blood.
In the last year a resolve has grown in me to get to know all the stories of all the individuals who died that day. This is my personal war on terrorism, because the terrorists thought their lives were worthless, insignificant. I read every story. I watch the memorials. I stare at the pictures. I will learn the value of each one who died. I will not give the victory to the monsters. I will hold the memories of these precious souls in my heart, a living memorial to September 11th.
Collection
Citation
“story4405.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 4, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/3753.