nmah2948.xml

nmah2948.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

At about 8:50am my secretary came in and said we had to get to a television because an airplain had just hit the World Trade Center. We watched CNN's announcers describe the scene and wonder if it was just an accident, when suddenly the second plane hit. Immediately everyone knew it was no accident. We continued to watch and listen to reports about another plane headed toward Washington DC that suddenly crashed in Pennsylvania. Rumors were rampent about other possible targets. Fighter jets flew over head at very low altitudes and minutes later appeared on TV over the skys of New York, just 40 miles away.
There was an erie silence as we continued to watch as the first and then the second tower collapsed, knowing that thousands of people were dying. I picked up my children from school and my wife and our children then stayed at home to continue to watch the rest of the horrific day's events unfold.

We will always remember that in America, ordinary people can do extraordinary things in the face of total terror.
Sometimes the worse of times can bring out the best in people.

We have flown an American flag every day since September 11th, with a dusk to dawn spot light on it. I have also worn an American flag lapel pin every day since. My strong feelings about the American flag have not changed, but I have certainly become more aware of them and more willing to display them.