nmah4216.xml

nmah4216.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was taking a much needed vacation on North Carolina's Outer Banks. I was awake unusually early, and turned on the morning news, just as pictures of the first plane were being broadcast. Thinking it an accident, I waited to hear more. To my horror, I saw the 2nd plane slam into the 2nd tower, and new it was the most outrageous act of terrorism imaginable. I woke my best friend, and tried to tell her what I had just seen, but she didn't believe me. I finally turned her TV on, and we just sat stunned. As each event unfolded, I felt more and more helpless. Being from PA, my first instinct was to call my family. My nephew is at Oceana NAS in Virginia, so I called him--he kept telling me things would be okay.. I told him that for the first time in my life, I couldn't honestly believe that. I started crying, and just couldn't stop. My friend of 30 years and I spent the rest of the day, in fact the week, in shock. It's still difficult to believe this all really happened.

I'm a trauma critical care nurse. I had been working at the Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, and had one week left to work before relocating to NOrth Carolina. I was unable to return to that job--every time I thought of one of teh choppers coming in with a new patient, I became physically ill. I felt guilty for not being able to do anything to help, and fear at the vision of the choppers hovering overhead. I come from a family with a strong military backround, and wish I had joined the Navy when I had the opportunity. I feel an even stronger sense of pride in my country than I did in the past. I have a stronger faith in God than I believed possible. And I still experience overwhelming periods of sorrow for the entire nation. But given the chance, I would stand and fight to the death for the land of my birth.

The strenght and courage of the passengers of Flight 93. The unfailing efforts of the military, and of the firefighters and police, not only in NY, DC, and PA, but the entire nation. And the incredible spirit of the citizens of this great country.

I fly my flag every day--that hasn't changed. I have developed a deep sense of protection of that flag, and would defend it and what it stands for to the death.