nmah4233.xml

nmah4233.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I live in Cincinnati, OH with my daughter and youngest son with Down Syndrome. My son was 13-years-old and was either watching videos or playing Nintendo on the television that morning. From a window to the left of the t.v. was a view of the American flag flying at half staff in the apartment complex next door. My daughter awoke and noticed this asking, "Why is the flag hanging half staff?" I thought a congressman or someone had died and said so. She wanted to turn on the news but because my son had his turn with the t.v. and was behaving himself, I said "no." I stepped outside the apartment complex that morning to behold the beautiful blue morning sky. It was stunning! I remembered a prayer of Saint Elizabeth Seton and said to myself: "Look up to the blue sky and love him." I ran errands at the IGA across the street without knowing what had happened. I went to United Dairy Farmers and the clerk mentioned two planes had flown into the WTC and Pentagon. He asked me what I thought the world was coming to? I was stunned, went home, and told my daughter we did need to put on the t.v. I learned later that a Catholic priest, the Reverend Francis E. Grogan, CSC, whom my family had known years ago in Spain, was a passenger on Flight 175 which left Boston and slammed into the South Tower that fateful morning. He was flying to California to visit his sister and two nephews; he never made it. In the 1960's Father Frank came to Spain with Reverend Patrick Peyton to spread the message of Fatima, saying the Rosary, and praying to Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Frank was from Stonehill College in Massachusetts, where my paternal relatives had also graduated. Fr. Frank and Fr. Peyton were like family members visiting our family. When September 11, 2001 happened, I scanned the list of passengers and was shocked to see Fr. Frank's name. I felt there was a deep connection between the message of Fatima then and the events of September 11, 2001. I felt a deep sense of sorrow and called my family in Virginia to confirm the priest mentioned was one and the same Fr. Frank from Spain. Fr. Frank, I feel, had a deep spiritual life steeped in courage to get on the plane at the particular time, not knowing he was flying to his death. In addition, I had tried to relocate to Northern Virginia from September 2000 to July 2001 and obtain employment at the D.I.A., located at the Pentagon. My personal debts kept me from getting the necessary security clearance to work there, so I had to relocate back to Ohio. When the Pentagon was struck, I wondered if had I been employed there, would I have been killed? I shall never know.

I see more deeply the relationship between the Blessed Mother and God's presence before 9/11, during 9/11 and afterward. I see Scripture passages more illumined. I see more connections in my life as road markers and guideposts in my important personal decisions. I wrote a poem to express my feelings that morning that I reflect upon:

UNTITLED
Satan's word in souls purulent with hate
sends arrows darkened, guided
toward the city's towers
to castrate
God's word against a brillant hue
has come to set the earth on fire;
would that it
was ablaze
Glass, concrete, and twisted steel
descend as souls lifted heavenward
from an open urn
flow
America, America
in God alone can we
be saved

I rode on the Greyhound bus from Cincinnati, OH to Northern Virginia to attend my mother's funeral January 18, 2002. The bus rode past the Pentagon at night but the damaged wall was shrouded in darkness for security reasons. At Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Lake Ridge, VA. during the funeral liturgy, I looked to the wall to the right of the main altar opposite me to see light reflected upon a small crucifix hanging on the wall. To the left of the crucifix was the shadow of the American flag and an eagle reflected upon the wall. My thoughts were of my country, the American flag, and the American eagle were "standing in the shadow of the Crucified Christ Jesus." I think the words, "In God We Trust" became more significant and take precedence over the American flag. I have a small rectangular American flag taped to my apartment door in Cincinnati. I look out the apartment window and see the American flag flying 24/7, think of the victims of September 11, 2001, the survivors, and their families and say a prayer for all of America each day.