story918.xml
Title
story918.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-07-19
911DA Story: Story
I don't rise terribly early, so the news stories were pouring in from New York as I did my morning exercises. I kept the radio tuned to news as I drove for work. I saw the terrific traffic jam eastbound on Rt. 50 at George Mason Dr. at about the same time I realized that a plane had hit the Pentagon, too. I got on Glebe Rd. and headed south.
As I crossed Columbia Pike, I looked east, and saw the clouds of smoke boiling up from the Pentagon. It took me an hour and a half to get to my job in Old Town Alexandria, and all the way, the heartrending news reports kept coming- II heard about the second plane in NYC, the towers collapsing, the fourth plane first possibly heading for DC, then missing, then reported crashed.
I remember the feelings of frustrated anger and horror. Finally, I reached work. I remember looking up the river and seeing the smoke plume against the sky; then 2 F-15's shot overhead, and my spirits rose a bit. I did no work that day; instead, I answered frantic e-mails from my friends, inquiring after my safety, and sighed in relief as everyone I knew in DC or NYC checked in.
There were a couple of close calls- people I knew who worked in the WTC, but had not gone to work that day; someone else who had been scheduled to move into that part of the Pentagon, but had been delayed. No-one I knew died or was hurt; and I think no-one I know lost anyone close to them. Thank the Gods.
Eventually, one of my friends established an AIM chatroom so we could share news and comfort one another. I left work early and made my way home to hold my wife.
The next day, I drove close to the Pentagon to reach work, and I remember the strong wood-smoke smell...
I prayed then as I pray now, to the Gods I follow: may Justice, Mercy, Peace and Freedom prevail- may Justice be dealt to the ones who perpetrated this atrocity; may Mercy be granted to the dead, the hurt, the bereaved and the innocent; may Peace fall on the world; and may we not lose Freedom in this nation, in some futile bid for perfect safety.
Biodh se.
As I crossed Columbia Pike, I looked east, and saw the clouds of smoke boiling up from the Pentagon. It took me an hour and a half to get to my job in Old Town Alexandria, and all the way, the heartrending news reports kept coming- II heard about the second plane in NYC, the towers collapsing, the fourth plane first possibly heading for DC, then missing, then reported crashed.
I remember the feelings of frustrated anger and horror. Finally, I reached work. I remember looking up the river and seeing the smoke plume against the sky; then 2 F-15's shot overhead, and my spirits rose a bit. I did no work that day; instead, I answered frantic e-mails from my friends, inquiring after my safety, and sighed in relief as everyone I knew in DC or NYC checked in.
There were a couple of close calls- people I knew who worked in the WTC, but had not gone to work that day; someone else who had been scheduled to move into that part of the Pentagon, but had been delayed. No-one I knew died or was hurt; and I think no-one I know lost anyone close to them. Thank the Gods.
Eventually, one of my friends established an AIM chatroom so we could share news and comfort one another. I left work early and made my way home to hold my wife.
The next day, I drove close to the Pentagon to reach work, and I remember the strong wood-smoke smell...
I prayed then as I pray now, to the Gods I follow: may Justice, Mercy, Peace and Freedom prevail- may Justice be dealt to the ones who perpetrated this atrocity; may Mercy be granted to the dead, the hurt, the bereaved and the innocent; may Peace fall on the world; and may we not lose Freedom in this nation, in some futile bid for perfect safety.
Biodh se.
Collection
Citation
“story918.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 10, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/7009.