story10917.xml

story10917.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2004-09-11

I remember hearing about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. I thought what a freak accident this was. I started watching the news at work and called my wife about it. I was amazed that someone lost control of a plane and hit the building. I was watching the news more as I was hanging up the phone with my wife and I thought to myself what would my little fire department do if a Hi-Rise structure was hit in my town. Could we get the fire under control?! I remember watching on when all of a sudden the other plane was being shown coming in and hitting the other tower! I immediatly thought to myself that this was no accident, it was intentional! I called my wife back and told her of this as the news was reporting that another plane had struck the Pentagon. My wife thought immediatly that something was wrong from my first phone call to her. I had no clue until the second plane hit. I remember my boss asking me about 1 hour into the burning, "what is that smoke coming out of the bottom for?" I looked at the TV screen and to my horror, and before I could get it out of my mouth, the building came crashing down. I remember thinking like the fire fighter I am, about pancake collapses, and the dust, debris, and asbestos being lifted into the air. I also thought of my brotherhood of fire fighters being trapped, smothered, burned, and crushed. I started praying at once and went to school to pick up my children and nephew as my wife and I felt better with them being at home. I was glued to the TV all the rest of the day and week because of the rescue effort involved. I remember Mayor Guiliani talking about finally going to body recovery and my heart just sank for all the families. I also was caught remembering the famous statement Roosevelt made when Pearl Harbor happened. "Today is a date that will live in infamy." I mostly remember from that date, that we found the heroes that alot of people forgot about! We refound America the Brave!