nmah657.xml

nmah657.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-30

I was in a convention center in Atlanta, and while checking out computer networking exhibits I saw this fantastic C.G. display on a large, flat screen Hi-Def television and my friend and I stood just admiring the quality of what appeared to be asmoke billowing out of the World Trade Center. Other people were standing around the display, too--more than I would expect a TV display to attract, anyway. Then we saw this fantastic image of an airplane slamming into the other tower, and we watched people hold their hands to their mouths.
Only then, did we realize that this was not computer generated.
We stared for a while, and I immediately thought that this can't be happening...but if it is, I bet the police department I work at in Chattanooga is going crazy right about now, and I need to get to work NOW. We then heard about the Pentagon, and a 4th flight still in the air, and it occurred to me tht I was in a major city and at a major convention, and that I might just be in danger. We exited slowly, but steadily, and began a long silent drive back home.
We were transfixed by the news broadcasts on the radio; I had no idea that my obsession with news broadcasts wouldn't end for weeks after that. Every spare moment was spent tuned in to CNN and Fox News. First thing I woke up to, last thing I saw before bed. I called my mother and my ex-wife and son on the way back; we talked as we felt--like zombies, or as if we had recently been frozen, and were just beginning to thaw. I had literally buried a co-worker the day before who was killed in the line of duty earlier that week, so I still felt numb as it was. But then, I kept thinking about the elevator scene from "The Untouchables", too--when the word "TOUCHABLE" was written in blood. For that is exactly how I felt.
Our Department naturally locked down its headquarters and activated its Emergency Operations Center, and as a Department spokesman I didn't go home for roughly 20 hours, but that was my day--and I'm glad I remember it, actually, because I can't remember most of the days after that.

I make a concerted effort to not let the numbness fade into apathy as we are want to do as a nation, but rather to focus it towards preparedness.

We are 'Touchable', but not 'Breakable'. That, and that heroism doesn't require bravery so much as duty. And duty shall carry us all through.

The American flag became a security blanket as well as a symbol.
I ama police officer, and the son of a decorated vetran. I have Always flown the U.S. flag.