nmah1761.xml

nmah1761.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-09

We were stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii at Pearl Harbor on September 11, 2002. Our telephone rang at 5:20AM and my friend said to turn on the television because the WTC had been hit by an airplane. We fumbled around trying to get a light turned on and turn on the t.v.. While we were watching the early coverage the second plane hit and the speculations started about it being terrorists, then the Pentagon and the reports from Pennsylvania f a plane down there. Our kids woke up shortly afterwards from the noise of the t.v. and we sat, the four of us watching, talking, crying and trying to understand, in our bed...too dumbfounded tomove. We just hugged and held each other tightly ALL day that day...I had always been proud of my husband for the job he does in the US Navy but I was never prouder that day as I was when he came out dressed in his uniform heading off to the base facing such uncertainity. Our children stayed home that day from school and I from work because we knew we needed to be together. We called our families and cried on the phone with them and made absolute sure they knew we loved them and we were so thankful that we could still tell them that when so many other peoples lives were changed that day forever and they would never again share those sentiments with their loved ones. That evening we went to church at our church, First United Methodist Church of Honolulu...we prayed for understanding, comfort and most of all for the families who had lost loved ones. We held hands with strangers and embraced them...we needed each other that night. We went to bed that night but couldnot sleep...we held each other thankful we had each other and cried....we didn't sleep much that night....we did a lot of praying.

My life has changed....I try more than ever to be more understanding of other peoples cultures and beliefs. I have always been a friendly person but now I am more likely to say hello to someone and ask how they are and now I REALLY listen to them and what they have to say. I am more likely to offer help now too than I was before...life is all too short to "pretend" we don't see things especially when we see someone needing help.

Mainly, I think we need to remember the tragedy of the day ad all the innocent lives lost. We should always remember the babies born after that day to fathers that will never see them and the children who will never know their fathers. We should always remmember the families that lost loved ones that day. We should always remember to be so thankful for every day we wake up and have our life.

Being brought up learning proper flag etiquette I have always had a tremendous respect for our flag. Yes, we very proudly put our flag out that morning and have always done so. My feelings have changed because I feel more love for the flag and what it stands for....I bust with pride whenever I see the flag...it makes me more proud to be an American.