story2064.xml

story2064.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-10

My 8 year old daughter was home sick from school, and I had settled down to work on folding the laundry while I watched the news. Sitting on the couch in the living room I stopped to take a sip of coffee when a breaking news story hit my local channel.

The first aircraft had hit the tower. I watched in disbelief and wondered how?
At first the newcasters were saying it was a small aircraft. As I sat watching, In total shock I watched the second aircraft hit!, My next door neighbor called me and asked me if I was watching.
She was crying. At that moment, it came over the tv. both aircraft were large commercial jets that had just recently taken off.
(being an avid fan of aviation, I knew that if they had just taken off, then they were full of jet fuel and that it was a very dangerous situation) chaos was on the airwaves. Radio and tv.
Newscasters were experiencing difficulties in maintining their stoic attitude and showed the world that even they are human.
I went outside and tried to calm my neighbors, they were very distraught and borderline histerical (they have come to rely on me for several things as I have a military background and I work with our local Neighborhood block watch) I was standing out on the lawn talking to one of my neighbors, when we saw a large jet fly overhead. being on a flight path for two local airports, it was unusual to see a jet the size of the one over us. We both remarked how low it was.
We could see the windows and tail markings.
From where I stood, I could see that someone was looking down through one of the windows, and that some other windows towards first class were mostly closed. Watching this aircraft fly approximately 1,500 feet over my neighborhood (with a local gradeschool only a block away) shook me up. I watched to see which way it would fly, thinking maybe it was heading to Akron-Fulton or Akron-Canton airport (since by now all flights were ordered to land)
The aircraft made a path to a directional marker (used in aircraft navigation) and flew a path that would take it towards Pennsylvania.
I told my neighbor that I would be right back and I went in to call Cleveland Hopkins Air Traffic control. My daughter came down and asked why such a big aircraft flew over the house (she is used to several different types of aircraft, but none so big or low over our house)
Cleveland told me that I did not see anything.
I sent my daughter back upstairs to bed and told her everything would be alright. Returning outside to my neighbor (with phone in hand) I told her not to worry and I would alert, one of the airports in our area.
I called two more airports until I got a verification that I had indeed seen an aircraft fly at my location. About that time, my neighbor told me that a jet had crashed in Pennsylvania.
she looked at me and asked if that could be the same aircraft. I tried to calm her but terror was in her eyes. I had no time to feel, or show any emotion. I had people relying on me and my abilities.
I went back to my television and it mentioned that a flight was lost from radar around the Cleveland area.
I continued to watch and monitor my phone.

Periodically I would check on my neighbors to assure them that things were going well.
I touched bases with the local police dept. and emergency services.

My husband called from work and I gave him a briefing.

Continuing to watch the news reports I eventually saw the piece where they plotted the route of the aircraft that crashed in Pennsylvania.

It was the same aircraft! There were no others large aircraft in our area as I eventually found out from the ATC at Akron Canton airport.
I called the FBI and the lady there told me I was nuts! She said that she has so many people calling and saying that they saw that aircraft, she was not going to start believing anyone including me. (this woman needs severe sensitivity training)
I called our local flight school and spoke with the FBO operator and he also agreed that I had indeed witnessed flight 93.

My neighbors and I still live with the vision of this aircraft over our apartments.
I still see the face looking out of the window.

and my mind still wonders "Was I the last friendly face that they saw?, Were they trying to let someone know that there was a problem? Was my flag at half mast the last patriotic effort by another human being (not on their aircraft) that they would witness? If I had known what the situation was, would there have been anything that I could have done? Should I have called the airports and forced the issue about the aircraft flying so low over a residential area?.

The next day, I called my former Army recruiter in Montana and told him to get me back in the Army. He laughed so hard he fell off of his chair. He told me that I was too old now.
So we discussed ways for me to help my Country.
The following week my husband, daughter and myself, attended our first Civil Air Patrol meeting. (Civil Air Patrol is the Auxillary of the United States Air Force) We have been volunteering with youth and senior members from our community ever since. Proud in the knowledge that we are ready to help! Ready to assist in the defense of our Country!
You don't have to carry a firearm to help the country! The willingness to do whatever you can where ever you are needed is enough.

I will never forget 11 September 2001.
It has changed my life and that of my family and friends forever. It has brought my Community, Country and the World closer.
Unifying all people to work towards peace.

Make your anger and pain work for you instead of against you. Participate in a memorial ceremony to mark the anniversary, then go out and find a way to volunteer and give a litte, to honor those who gave all!