story5623.xml

story5623.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I am an advertising executive for cable televsion in Lexington, Kentucky. I was entering our offices that September morning and I looked up to take a quick peek at the tv in the main lobby, as I did every morning. I noticed that the scene was of the World Trade Center building on fire. I asked the receptionist what was happening and all she knew at that moment was that a plane had struck the tower. I thought how horrible. Was it a miscue from the pilot? How could a mistake this terrible happen? I proceeded to my cubicle and turned on the tv that we had in our areas. Getting down to daily business, but keeping an ear out for any news on the plane crash, my day and life completely changed in the next moment. In that instant, when the next tower was hit, I realized that America and it's people had changed forever. I stayed close to a tv set, either at work or home, for hours and days on end. I didn't want to see the carnage, but couldn't bear not to see it either. And I am so glad I watched. For what I saw was not just pain and suffering, but hope, patriotism, brotherhood, kindness and love. Today is the first anniversary of that terrible day and I still become upset when I see photos or hear people speak. But I know that I am handing over a strong, caring and wonderful country to my grandchildren. I also know that I will be okay and so will America. We all hurt and eventually we all heal because we're all Americans.