nmah5330.xml

nmah5330.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-12-14

I worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Main Complex in Washington DC at the foot of the 14th Street Bridge across from the Holocaust Museaum. At approximately 9:45, radios throughout the office echoed the horrific news. I remember distinctly when my supervisor reported that there had been some sort of incident at the Old Executive Office Building. That was discounted and at that moment I felt really vulnerable.

Ms. Bryan had the sense to say that she was leaving and not waiting for a "green light"...I'm thankful to her that I had the sense to follow her out of the building and onto the Metro, which was eerily quiet at 10:00 A.M (Smithsonian Station, Independence Avenue). My adrenaline was rushing, and I got home at around 10:50. My wife and I then went to my daughter's school and picked her up.

Well, thank God for those heroic men who forced the plane down in Shanksville. I think that from all of the accounts that day I realized how one human being can really change the world if he looks outside of himself. I thank God for my wife, who is a 4 1/2 year survivor of breast cancer, and my daughter, Emily, growing up fast at 7. I'm 39, yet I believe the events of September 11 have made me realize how lucky we have been as a country to avoid combat on our soil. ...it is indeed hard to put into words

Those that summoned all the energy they had to take charge and do what had to be done....people such as the firemen who helped that lady down tens of flights of stairs...and the unfathomable images of not only those tremendous buildings coming down, but of those who held hands and jumped to their deaths.

And kudos to Rudy Guiliani, who had his finest hour.

Yes, I fly a flag now. I even have a mini flag propped up in the back of an old Underwood typewriter I display near my computer. I used to think that the "American Legion" types were the only ones who flew flags "for old times sake."

If you feel deeply for your country, your roots, and how your ancestors arrived in Baltimore and in Ellis Island early last century....you feel pride in flying the flag. Long live the USA. L'Chaim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!