nmah5310.xml

nmah5310.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-11-27

I was working at the Bonham Building of the Florida Department of Revenue when Shelly Davie,a co-worker,stated she had just heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I prayed silently for all involved and those like me who heard the news.I called my adult daughter, Melanie Foster, who was home that day. Then I went back to work. A little while later we heard the news of the second plane. Several co-workers gathered in the conference room to watch television. I burst into tears as one of the towers fell because I had friends in the NYC area. I later learned that of the six people I could have lost, one was killed. I also remember my husband,Doug Hatfield ,calling me on that terrible day from his job at Sears. My name is Mary Catharine Hatfield and I wish my memories of September 11,2001 to be used to perpetually remember the innocent victims. Do not believe anyone in the future who tries to tell you this was a hoax or that the United States of America provoked this attack. My favorite poem about September 11th states "Courage doesn't hide in a cave,You can't bury freedom in a grave." My worksite raised $2000.00 with a yardsale for the American Red Cross. My daughter and I also gave out candles for the American Red Cross at a rally on the evening of September 12th at Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee,Florida. I,like millions of Americans put a miniature American flag on my 1989 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and my 1997 Toyota Tacoma. Even now,I have a flag sticker on my 2002 Kia Sportage as a reminder to myself that my fellow Americans and citizens of many other countries were murdered on that day. God bless us as we seek to stop the enemies of freedom.

I have never taken my freedom for granted because my mother,Catharine Deitch, and my father,David Deitch, are U.S. Army veterans of WW II. My three brothers are also U. S. Army veterans. My sister-in-law,also a U. S. Army veteran,had family behind the Iron Curtain for years. 9/11/01 only added to my appreciation of the wonderful life I have in the United States of America. I also wish to state 911 was always an emergency call before 9/11/01. 911 and 9/11(01) have a link in my mind now.

Innocent people were murdered by someone who twisted the Islamic religion. I have found nothing in Islam that says innocent people should be murdered.

Yes,I flew the American flag after September 11th. I also flew it on flag holidays before September 11th. My feelings about the American flag have not changed as a result of September 11th. I feel the schoolteachers of Gettysburg,Pa. and my parents instilled in me a deep love of country that can only deepen.