story2751.xml

story2751.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

September 11, 2001 will be forever embedded in my memory as one of the most frightening days of my life. I am the receptionist for an over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Owings Mills, Baltimore, Maryland. I was sitting at my desk when a co-worker came by and told me that an airplane flew into one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York. A few minutes later, another co-worker told me that a second plane had flown into the second tower. At first, we thought it was an accident, but when we heard about the second plane, we knew something else was wrong.

We all scrambled to the conference rooms, turned on the televison, and to our utter amazement, there they were, blazing in flame and smoke. We were all too numb to speak, we just glared at the television in disbelief. There was talk about the Pentagon, and the plane crash in Pennsylvania. I had to leave the room, it was all too hard to take in. Upon my return, I was told that one of the buildings had collapsed. Is stood there in disbelief, and then, the second tower collapsed. It was more than I could handle. I began weeping, uncontrolably. I left the room and went to my desk. I put my head in my hands and I began to pray, asking God to be with all those people in and around the building.

The President of our company decided to close for the day so we could all be with our families. I remember the ride home, vividly. I live about an hour out of Washington, D.C., and the beltway signs were flashing that all roads to Washington, D.C. were closed until further notice. I knew that all air traffic had been cancelled, and Baltimore-Washington International Airport was only thirty minutes away. I remember how eerie it was not seeing any planes in the sky.

My next concern, as I traveled the highway, was having to drive trough the Fort McHenry Tunnel. (Not knowing how far the terrorists would take the events.) It still affects me to this day, each and every morning as I travel the same route, I ask God to protect us as we travel to and from work.

My children were already home from school, and when I arrived, I didn't even get out of the car. I just blew the horn and told them to lock the house up and come with me. I went to my friends house, called my husband at work, and had him meet us there. I wanted to be where I felt safe and protected, and I knew my friends home was the safest place to be.

The events of 9-11-2001 may have taken America by surprise, but God knew exactly what was going to happen. This is a wake-up call people! God doesn't make things like this happen, but He allows it to happen in order for us to seek His face and know just how powerful and mighty He is. God is our only true freedom. His grace is sufficient for each and every one of us, we must learn to trust Him in all of our day to day activities. Give Him the glory and honor He deserves, and see what a difference He will make in your life.

Because of His Grace, I remain...
Theresa H. Willinger