story6171.xml

story6171.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

As a little girl my father would take me to these two giant buildings in the middle of the busiest place I had ever been to, New York City. The first time he took me to New York I fell in love. Although I grew up on Long Island, I was so close to the city that I made it a regular stop through the years, to see a show, to go to Macy's or just to go into those TWO GIANT BUILDINGS, so needless to say when they were attacked it was so devestating. I was driving to work that day and heard that Tower one was hit and thought it was just a terrible accident and then I heard about tower two and my heart started racing, then the pentagon. I was working at the same company as my husband at the time so I was fortunate enough to have with me there to comfort me as we all watched what was happening just 30 miles from us. We could actually go up on the roof and see all the smoke of the fires and actually see some of the building and then in a matter of minutes, they were gone and all those poor people inside.

It was devastating. The huge loss of life. People jumping out of windows, people running for their lives and all those fireman and police who ran in there knowing they were probably going to die. It's just so sad and yet at the same time it made me even prouder than before to be an American. The way this country came together to help those who need help, to comfort those who needed comfort and to honor those who had lost their lives.

I think the thing that touched me the most though was the way the President handled the whole situation right from the start when he was approached in that second grade class and told that we were under attack. He was extremely in control from the start. When we watched him from our televisions comforting this wounded nation, telling us to hug our children, PRAYING with us, and then ending every night with God Bless America, I felt like a little child who was just tucked in by my daddy after a horrible, horrible day.

I love that we were praying together as a nation, together. Amazing Grace was being played on the radio and churches were open all day to pray and comfort each other. It took a horrible tragedy to bring us together through Christ our God. He spared many lives that day. It could have been so much worse that it ended up being although it was still a tremendous loss. I will never forget that day. I am a mother of five and at times it can be very frustrating but this event has brought me closer to my children. I realize that one day could change my whole world so every day that we are alive and together is a GREAT day.

Those people are our heroes. They didn't realize they would be in those last minutes of their lives but I hope they know now from where they are in a better place.

God Bless America

Holly Marino
Fishkill, NY