nmah5363.xml

nmah5363.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-01-08

I remember that day like it was yesterday, as it was the scariest I had ever experienced. I am a full time college student at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. I was in class that morning, and when I walked into Chapel at 9:55 am CST, I found my best friend sitting in my seat. I said hello and asked what he was doing in my seat, and he responded, with a very solemn tone, "Have you spoken to your Father?" I looked at him, and responded that I had not spoken to him since the previous weekend. When I asked him why he asked, he told me of the attacks. Being my best friend, he knew that my Father worked in the Pentagon as a government contractor, and was there on a daily basis. I stumbled into my seat, and nearly passed out from fear. I remember sitting in my seat, crying, as the Vice President of the College stood in front of the student body and gave us what sketchy details we had at the time. When he finished, our Pastor gave us a short thought from God's Word, and dismissed us. Those of us who had loved ones in the Pentagon or World Trade Center were asked to attend a special prayer meeting there in the sanctuary immediately following the chapel hour. As soon as we were dismissed however, I ran to the nearest phone and attempted to contact my Mother, Father, sister, brother, even Grandmother in Pennsylvania. Every number I dialed was busy, and I could not get ahold of anyone. It was then that I made my way into the prayer meeting, and found I was not alone. There were nearly 100 fellow students with loved ones in the Pentagon or World Trade Center. We broke up into groups of 3 or 4, with school administrators, and began to pray for our loved ones. I did not hear from anyone in my family until almost noon, central time, but I did manage to get in touch with the secretary at my Church in Herndon Virginia. As soon as I heard her voice, I asked if she had by any chance heard from my Father, and it was then that I was informed my Father was safe. His office was a mere 100 yards or less from where the plane made impact, and had escaped out the building before the fires reached him. He had to walk several miles to the nearest subway station in order to get home, as public transportation in the entire DC area had been shut down. I cannot describe the fear I had in my heart until I heard my Father was safe, and even harder to describe would be the relief I felt when I heard he was safe. I can only thank the One and Only Holy God for seeing fit to spare my Father from the terrorists who committed such a heinous act against the greatest nation in the world.