story1385.xml

story1385.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-21

I was going to work at Abbott Laboratories, listening to the radio when I first heard of the "passenger aircraft that hit the World Trade Center" as the radio first announced it. I didn't think much of it as I thought, it may have been a small plane that hit the building, I went into work and was relaying the news to a co-worker who hadn't heard of it. As we listened to the radio the news became more clear, we started getting phone calls from friends and spouses, as I frantically tried to find a TV somewhere at work I listened and then started to watch the video feeds via the Internet news channel. All I could do was watch in horror as we watched the first tower on fire and listening to the news broadcasters relaying information. Then came word of the second plane hitting the second tower, all we could do was listen in horror as we came to realize what was actually happening. I frantically tried to call my girlfriend Cheryl in Michigan to talk to her because I was an emotional wreck inside. As we all stood watching and listening to the news, I was numb, dumb founded as to why and who... In the coming hours and days as the who and why became known, I had such a rage within me, and like a lot of other folks in this country, I came to realize that we, America, are no more safer against terrorist acts as any other country that has had a terrorist act committed against them. I've always been patriotic, but like most all Americans, my patriotism came rushing out, I was angry I wanted revenge, I wanted retribution, but after listening to President Bush and realizing that it wouldn?t come quick I figured I?d do what I can. I donated blood, gave to charity for the victims, and prayed for the lost souls that never deserved to have this happen to them. I display my American flag up on my living room window, and I swore that it wouldn?t be put away as my show of American faith for all to see, to show any would be terrorist that we will never cave in, that the American people will never be bought to our knees as they so much wanted to do on that fateful day. Almost a year later I still get emotional when I think about what happened, it has had such a profound effect on my life and the way I see things. I wish I could do so much more than the tiny bit I feel I?ve done. I, in no way can realize what the families of these people must go through day in and day out, but I hope that life for them gets a bit easier as the days go by, my heart and prayers go out to them, they loved ones are the true heroes of America, and till the day I leave this earth I will never forget???

God Bless them and all of America