nmah5006.xml

nmah5006.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-16

We live in North Carolina and were on vacation in the Smoky Mountains, camping. We had no phones, no radio, no communication with the "outside world". About 6:00 pm on the evening of 9/11 we decided to turn on our little portable radio to see if we could get the local weather forecast. I found a radio station out of Tennessee and the newscaster was talking about whether the local schools would be re-opened on Wednesday or not. I said "Oh my God, there has been another school shooting!" Listening longer we heard what we thought was an Orson Welles type of story being broadcast as part of a radio program. We listened to him tell of two hijacked planes hitting the World Trade Center in New York City and I said to my husband, "This is not very realistic, no one would believe this!" We continued to listen and slowly it dawned on us that this was real! We listened in shock, unable to comprehend the magnatude of what had happened. About an hour later we drove into the nearest town and started calling loved ones to enure ourselves of their safety.
It wasn't until the following Sunday when we got home that we were able to see news pictures of what had happened. We both sat their, crying, watching the horrible pictures. We knew none of the dead personally but we cried for all of the loss, of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and co-workers. So many lost lives, innocent lives, so many more lives affected - children who will grow up with a missing parent, brides and grooms just starting their lives together, parents who should have outlived their sons and daughters. It is almost too much to try and comprehend..

It is certainly true that you hold those you love a little more closely, tell them a little more often how much they mean to you, think a little more often of the selfless men and women who protect our country and neighborhoods and hold with more pride our flag, our country and our freedom.

We think all of the involved people should be remembered. Victims as well as rescue personnel.

We have flown an American Flag at our home for as long as I can remember but we did put a flag on our cars after 9/11 and will continue to do so. Our feelings of pride in our flag have deepened.