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#1
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
This is not political but since this is the 5 year remembrance for a day
the world we never forget I thought it appropriate to post a poem that caught my attention Sept. 11, 2001 Two Thousand One ~ Nine Eleven (2001-911) Two thousand one, nine eleven Three thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray Others in khaki, and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear. The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom, in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores A silence fell within the mist Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "Don't talk like that! Look at your country, look and see You died for freedom, just like me" Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell, but not alone "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '45 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone. All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one. With that the man in the stovepipe hat said "Take my hand," and from there he led Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!) 5 years ago at the time of the first plane hit I was watching the news already ready to start my day. Everyone thought it was just an airliner accident. I prayed for the people in the tower. A dear friend called me to tell me what happened he could not reach anyone else but his family just me. He was right across from the towers literally right below the south tower near the side where the second plane hit. I kept telling him to get out of there get somewhere safe. When the second plane hit I remember screaming NO at the TV scaring the hell out of the cats and my family. I yelled him run God run now get the hell out of there. We were both in tears on the phone. He was telling me to tell his family that he loved them and we both thought he was going to die right there. I remember the screams in the backgrounds, the shouts and his tears my tears than silence. I remember holding on tight to my family praying to all that was good please let them be ok. I tried calling back but only got his voice mail I promised him his family would know that they were in his thoughts. I made so many phone calls that morning trying to find my family and friends. I had a family member in a building near the towers we could not find her and no one knew were she was. We were all glued to the TV looking for answers when I saw the report on the pentagon attacks. I fell to my knees saying no no n o for a cousin works in the building. We could not find her for 14 hours. I called out for answers the only answer I had was silence. No one could tell us anything no one had answers. The rest of the day was glued to the TV sitting in silence stunned, violated, nauseated, feeling the hatred, asking for forgiveness for the hatred. When the announcement of flight 93 came out I just sat there emotional stunned. I watched them pull some fire fighters out of the rubble and the first call he did was to his mother to say "I am ok,I am sorry that I scared you, I love you". I remembering saying thank you in a silent prayer I watched the people; looking for my cousin, that had evacuated the pentagon sitting in the field where a makeshift trama area had been made. When the repost came in that there was still people trapped inside and everyone even the injured ones stood up and went running back to help. I thought heroes all of them and prayed for them and their families when the towers fell. I thought the world had ended That evening I received the calls I had been praying for my friend had made it out of the area he had to walk home many miles, My cousins was stuck on the freeway for hours in the evacuation. We did not find our other family member from the towers for 2 weeks. She is the type that disappears for weeks at a time when she feels like it ( b@tch ). I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11 |
#2
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off
my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten On 9/11/01 I was driving a truckload of tires from Reno, NV to Oxnard, CA. I had stopped at the TA truck stop in Salinas, CA for a cup of coffee. While I was doctoring up my coffee another driver, watching the display TVs, shouted out "Hey, a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York". All of us crowded around the TV to see what was going on. I had to get back on the road, so I turned on the radio for more info. You would be surprised at the number of truck drivers who were crying on the CB radio that morning. And later that day there wasn't an American flag available at any truck stops anywhere - they were all sold out. |
#3
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
What a beautiful poem, Matthew, and what a heart-wrenching memory for you.
I live on the west coast, and woke up to the news on my clock radio. I spent the day alternating hours glued to the TV with hours where I couldn't bear to absorb any more on the subject, and just had to turn it off. I didn't know anyone in that area, but it was still heart-wrenching. My heart swelled with pride when I heard about the brave actions of the passengers on United 93. I knew then that there will never be another commercial plane hijacked in the United States, or probably in the world - at least not in our lifetimes. Subsequent events have proved me right on that score. I seriously doubt if anyone was offended by your post. You did not make it political, nor make any judgments. It was a thoughtful, caring post. Joy "Matthew" wrote in message ... This is not political but since this is the 5 year remembrance for a day the world we never forget I thought it appropriate to post a poem that caught my attention Sept. 11, 2001 Two Thousand One ~ Nine Eleven (2001-911) Two thousand one, nine eleven Three thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray Others in khaki, and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear. The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom, in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores A silence fell within the mist Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "Don't talk like that! Look at your country, look and see You died for freedom, just like me" Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell, but not alone "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '45 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone. All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one. With that the man in the stovepipe hat said "Take my hand," and from there he led Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!) 5 years ago at the time of the first plane hit I was watching the news already ready to start my day. Everyone thought it was just an airliner accident. I prayed for the people in the tower. A dear friend called me to tell me what happened he could not reach anyone else but his family just me. He was right across from the towers literally right below the south tower near the side where the second plane hit. I kept telling him to get out of there get somewhere safe. When the second plane hit I remember screaming NO at the TV scaring the hell out of the cats and my family. I yelled him run God run now get the hell out of there. We were both in tears on the phone. He was telling me to tell his family that he loved them and we both thought he was going to die right there. I remember the screams in the backgrounds, the shouts and his tears my tears than silence. I remember holding on tight to my family praying to all that was good please let them be ok. I tried calling back but only got his voice mail I promised him his family would know that they were in his thoughts. I made so many phone calls that morning trying to find my family and friends. I had a family member in a building near the towers we could not find her and no one knew were she was. We were all glued to the TV looking for answers when I saw the report on the pentagon attacks. I fell to my knees saying no no n o for a cousin works in the building. We could not find her for 14 hours. I called out for answers the only answer I had was silence. No one could tell us anything no one had answers. The rest of the day was glued to the TV sitting in silence stunned, violated, nauseated, feeling the hatred, asking for forgiveness for the hatred. When the announcement of flight 93 came out I just sat there emotional stunned. I watched them pull some fire fighters out of the rubble and the first call he did was to his mother to say "I am ok,I am sorry that I scared you, I love you". I remembering saying thank you in a silent prayer I watched the people; looking for my cousin, that had evacuated the pentagon sitting in the field where a makeshift trama area had been made. When the repost came in that there was still people trapped inside and everyone even the injured ones stood up and went running back to help. I thought heroes all of them and prayed for them and their families when the towers fell. I thought the world had ended That evening I received the calls I had been praying for my friend had made it out of the area he had to walk home many miles, My cousins was stuck on the freeway for hours in the evacuation. We did not find our other family member from the towers for 2 weeks. She is the type that disappears for weeks at a time when she feels like it ( b@tch ). I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11 |
#4
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
"Dan M" wrote On 9/11/01 I was driving a truckload of tires from Reno, NV to Oxnard, CA. I had stopped at the TA truck stop in Salinas, CA for a cup of coffee. While I was doctoring up my coffee another driver, watching the display TVs, shouted out "Hey, a plane just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York". All of us crowded around the TV to see what was going on. I had to get back on the road, so I turned on the radio for more info. You would be surprised at the number of truck drivers who were crying on the CB radio that morning. And later that day there wasn't an American flag available at any truck stops anywhere - they were all sold out. I was on the phone talking to someone at a bank or something, not someone I knew or had ever talked to before, and she kept saying things like "OMG, hold on a minute, this is incredible" finally I asked what's going on? and she said the WTC was falling down. I was in Gloria's house at the time (she was gone on a trip) so I turned on the TV and stayed glued there for hours, crying. |
#5
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
I can't remember much of what I was doing, watching TV outof boredom I
think, then this newsflash came on, with footage of the first tower in flames. As I watched, in total disbelief, still unsure whether I was watching real life or a movie, another plane appeared out of no-where, and accompanied by the horrifying cries of everyone watching, ploughed into the second tower. I felt totally numb. Six months before I had been in Egypt, and felt the tension towards the west there, and I remembered that while I watched. I remember feeling completely numb, half expecting it to be a joke, or a movie, it just didn't seem real. You could literally feel everything change. I had expected some kind of conflict to erupt in my lifetime, as we have had it really lucky for ages,(compared historically with other eras...I was studying history at the time) and sooner or later someone always starts it. But this was the most unexpected, unimaginable horror. Nothing like this had ever happened, and it changed everything. I could see it changing the whole American psyche, and a new side of the American people being presented. And the poem was beautiful. we should never forget, or stop remembering that day. "Joy" wrote in message . .. What a beautiful poem, Matthew, and what a heart-wrenching memory for you. I live on the west coast, and woke up to the news on my clock radio. I spent the day alternating hours glued to the TV with hours where I couldn't bear to absorb any more on the subject, and just had to turn it off. I didn't know anyone in that area, but it was still heart-wrenching. My heart swelled with pride when I heard about the brave actions of the passengers on United 93. I knew then that there will never be another commercial plane hijacked in the United States, or probably in the world - at least not in our lifetimes. Subsequent events have proved me right on that score. I seriously doubt if anyone was offended by your post. You did not make it political, nor make any judgments. It was a thoughtful, caring post. Joy "Matthew" wrote in message ... This is not political but since this is the 5 year remembrance for a day the world we never forget I thought it appropriate to post a poem that caught my attention Sept. 11, 2001 Two Thousand One ~ Nine Eleven (2001-911) Two thousand one, nine eleven Three thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray Others in khaki, and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear. The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom, in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores A silence fell within the mist Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "Don't talk like that! Look at your country, look and see You died for freedom, just like me" Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell, but not alone "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '45 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone. All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one. With that the man in the stovepipe hat said "Take my hand," and from there he led Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!) 5 years ago at the time of the first plane hit I was watching the news already ready to start my day. Everyone thought it was just an airliner accident. I prayed for the people in the tower. A dear friend called me to tell me what happened he could not reach anyone else but his family just me. He was right across from the towers literally right below the south tower near the side where the second plane hit. I kept telling him to get out of there get somewhere safe. When the second plane hit I remember screaming NO at the TV scaring the hell out of the cats and my family. I yelled him run God run now get the hell out of there. We were both in tears on the phone. He was telling me to tell his family that he loved them and we both thought he was going to die right there. I remember the screams in the backgrounds, the shouts and his tears my tears than silence. I remember holding on tight to my family praying to all that was good please let them be ok. I tried calling back but only got his voice mail I promised him his family would know that they were in his thoughts. I made so many phone calls that morning trying to find my family and friends. I had a family member in a building near the towers we could not find her and no one knew were she was. We were all glued to the TV looking for answers when I saw the report on the pentagon attacks. I fell to my knees saying no no n o for a cousin works in the building. We could not find her for 14 hours. I called out for answers the only answer I had was silence. No one could tell us anything no one had answers. The rest of the day was glued to the TV sitting in silence stunned, violated, nauseated, feeling the hatred, asking for forgiveness for the hatred. When the announcement of flight 93 came out I just sat there emotional stunned. I watched them pull some fire fighters out of the rubble and the first call he did was to his mother to say "I am ok,I am sorry that I scared you, I love you". I remembering saying thank you in a silent prayer I watched the people; looking for my cousin, that had evacuated the pentagon sitting in the field where a makeshift trama area had been made. When the repost came in that there was still people trapped inside and everyone even the injured ones stood up and went running back to help. I thought heroes all of them and prayed for them and their families when the towers fell. I thought the world had ended That evening I received the calls I had been praying for my friend had made it out of the area he had to walk home many miles, My cousins was stuck on the freeway for hours in the evacuation. We did not find our other family member from the towers for 2 weeks. She is the type that disappears for weeks at a time when she feels like it ( b@tch ). I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11 |
#6
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
That's a touching poem. Thanks for sharing it.
I finally wrote up my "where were you when?" story on my blog. It's a long one, so I'll just post the link to the blog entry: http://gabey8.blogspot.com/2006/09/a...nk-of-5th.html The one thing I'll mention here from that post is that when the attacks began, I was driving in my car in southern New Jersey, not far from Philadelphia, PA. I'd turned the local newsradio station on a few minutes earlier, to try and get a traffic report. Instead, it turns out I'd tuned in a few minutes prior to the station's interruption of their regular programming to switch to a live broadcast from their sister station in NYC. The occasion was that an airplane had struck the WTC. While I was listening, the second airplane crashed into the OTHER tower. I got so upset, I had an anxiety attack right there, behind the wheel. Long story short: I was coming from an off-ramp at the time and was so distracted, instead of yielding to oncoming traffic I nearly got my car broadsided by a truck. Thank God the truck driver was able to jam on his brakes and prevent a collision, because if he had hit my car, I'm positive that I wouldn't be here. It was just an excruciatingly tragic day. The grief is just as emotionally close to the surface for me now as it was on the day it happened, and I didn't personally know any of the unfortunate victims nor their families. God help the loved ones of the people who died, who have to relive this anniversary once again. I can't even begin to imagine what they are experiencing today. Prayers and purrs for this messed-up world, to stamp out the kind of hate that inspires hideous acts like this. Donna, Captain, and Stanley |
#7
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
Matthew wrote: This is not political but since this is the 5 year remembrance for a day the world we never forget I thought it appropriate to post a poem that caught my attention Sept. 11, 2001 Two Thousand One ~ Nine Eleven (2001-911) Two thousand one, nine eleven Three thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray Others in khaki, and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear. The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom, in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores A silence fell within the mist Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "Don't talk like that! Look at your country, look and see You died for freedom, just like me" Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell, but not alone "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '45 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone. All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one. With that the man in the stovepipe hat said "Take my hand," and from there he led Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!) 5 years ago at the time of the first plane hit I was watching the news already ready to start my day. Everyone thought it was just an airliner accident. I prayed for the people in the tower. A dear friend called me to tell me what happened he could not reach anyone else but his family just me. He was right across from the towers literally right below the south tower near the side where the second plane hit. I kept telling him to get out of there get somewhere safe. When the second plane hit I remember screaming NO at the TV scaring the hell out of the cats and my family. I yelled him run God run now get the hell out of there. We were both in tears on the phone. He was telling me to tell his family that he loved them and we both thought he was going to die right there. I remember the screams in the backgrounds, the shouts and his tears my tears than silence. I remember holding on tight to my family praying to all that was good please let them be ok. I tried calling back but only got his voice mail I promised him his family would know that they were in his thoughts. I made so many phone calls that morning trying to find my family and friends. I had a family member in a building near the towers we could not find her and no one knew were she was. We were all glued to the TV looking for answers when I saw the report on the pentagon attacks. I fell to my knees saying no no n o for a cousin works in the building. We could not find her for 14 hours. I called out for answers the only answer I had was silence. No one could tell us anything no one had answers. The rest of the day was glued to the TV sitting in silence stunned, violated, nauseated, feeling the hatred, asking for forgiveness for the hatred. When the announcement of flight 93 came out I just sat there emotional stunned. I watched them pull some fire fighters out of the rubble and the first call he did was to his mother to say "I am ok,I am sorry that I scared you, I love you". I remembering saying thank you in a silent prayer I watched the people; looking for my cousin, that had evacuated the pentagon sitting in the field where a makeshift trama area had been made. When the repost came in that there was still people trapped inside and everyone even the injured ones stood up and went running back to help. I thought heroes all of them and prayed for them and their families when the towers fell. I thought the world had ended That evening I received the calls I had been praying for my friend had made it out of the area he had to walk home many miles, My cousins was stuck on the freeway for hours in the evacuation. We did not find our other family member from the towers for 2 weeks. She is the type that disappears for weeks at a time when she feels like it ( b@tch ). I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11 I'm certainly not offended, Matthew. 9/11 happened to us all. It is a day we SHOULD remember, as we remember the people we lost that day, especially those who took down the plane on Flight 93 in Pennsylvania so that that plane could not be used as a weapon against anyone else on the ground. My own 9/11 experience was considerably less emotionally wrenching than yours, as I didn't lose anyone I loved that day, or even come close to losing them. My family is very West Coast based, and my brother, who's the only person living on the East Coast is down in Florida, a long way from NY or Washington. I don't generally watch the news on TV in the morning as even on completely normal days, I don't want to let that much "world" into my kitchen as the day begins. I'm just not ready for a barrage of news at that time of day. I do listen to the local classical music station on the radio, and I was doing so as I puttered around in my kitchen making breakfast at about 8:15 A.M. Pacific Time. There was music playing as I turned on the radio, and while I recognized it was a somber piece--can't remember what it was, now--I didn't think anything of it until I heard the announcer's voice saying "The World Trade Center is Gone." ON the east coast, the second tower had collapsed. THAT made me look up and I thought something really stupid like "Gone? Where did it GO??" I think I switched to a news station at that point, and like everyone here, I was horrified by the news. At work, we all wore black ribbons, kind of like the pink breast cancer ribbon, but black, pinned to our clothes. I remember that day feeling very eerie and ominous. Everyone was very very quiet. If I looked out the window, I didn't see anything that wasn't completely normal, and yet I knew nothing would be the same, again. I live near two airports, and I'm so used to the sound of airplanes flying over that those two days when all domestic flights were grounded were horribly quiet. That more than anything else underlined what had happened. On Thursday the 13th, when the planes began to fly again, the first one flying over head sounded so loud, it might have been coming in for a landing on the neighbor's roof. But I was so relieved to hear it! That fall, as news of the anthrax attacks came, everything seemed very precarious, and anything out of the ordinary seemed to have a sinister meaning. ON the second anniversary of 9/11, I was in Italy on a painting trip, and I heard some of my traveling companions talking about THEIR experiences on 9/11. The group leader's husband (he's a retired naval officer) was at work at the Pentagon, although luckily, he was at the other side of the building when t he plane hit. He HEARD it, but didn't realize what it was, thinking that somebody had just dropped something really heavy, like a safe.. About twenty minutes later, people were running by his office telling everyone to evacuate the building. Another woman on that trip said her husband, very luckily was away from his office when that plane hit, as his office was on the floor right above. If he'd been in it, he'd have been killed. His office of course was totally destroyed. Melissa |
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OT Sept. 11, 2001 a remembrance
Your story, as well as the poem, brought tears to my eyes.
When 9/11 happened, I was at work, in the warehouse - no TV, only radio. A co-worker's father & stepmother (whom she is closer to than her own manipulative, drug-abusing mother) *both* work at the Pentagon, She tried for several hours to contact them. She finally got hold of her father, but no word on her stepmother. His father was off work that day for Dr.s appointments, Even *he* couldn't get hold of his wife. Finally, in the afternoon, they found her. This is what I remember of her story (somewhere I have the email, but can't find it): Sheila (her step-mother) went to work as usual. As some co-workers would be gone later in the week, they held their usual Thursday meeting that Tuesday. She was not in her office when the plane hit, which was in the wing that was hit, but her purse was still there (at this point, she didn't even know if her office still existed). She was not allowed to go back & get it when they evacuated. Thus, she did not have her cell phone with her. They were loaded onto busses and driven to another part of town. They were off-loaded at a diner/cafe/restaurant. All the pay phones were in use - and even if they weren't, she had no money with her as she didn't have her purse. The cafe, upon hearing that the busloads of people that just arrived were evacuees from the Pentagon, was giving free bottles of water (as many as people wanted, plus I think they might have offered up meals too). Finally, seeing her distress, a coworker offered up his cell phone for her to use. She tried every # for her husband but they were either busy or the system was so busy she couldn't get through. *Finally* she was able to get him, by calling their neighbor's and they went to get him, but the cell phone battery died before she could tell him where she was. At this point, the same co-worker offered to share a cab with her, in order for her to get home. She gratefully accepted, however, it was a few more hours before a cab became available (I can imagine that). It wasn't until they were allowed back in to claim personal possessions that she was able to see what remained of her office. While her office was not directly hit, and not on the outer 'ring', a large chunk of the landing gear did punch a hole of about 2-3 feet wide in the outside wall, and damaged a large portion of the office inside. I was sent a couple of pictures of this, but like the email, I cannot find it . Had she not been in the meeting (that was normally held on Thursdays), she might have been seriously injured, if not killed! However, some of her other co-workers were, and Sheila ended up in therapy in order to deal with all that happened that day. In , Matthew purred: This is not political but since this is the 5 year remembrance for a day the world we never forget I thought it appropriate to post a poem that caught my attention Sept. 11, 2001 Two Thousand One ~ Nine Eleven (2001-911) Two thousand one, nine eleven Three thousand plus arrive in heaven As they pass through the gate, Thousands more appear in wait A bearded man with stovepipe hat Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat" They settle down in seats of clouds A man named Martin shouts out proud "I have a dream!" and once he did The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives." Groups of soldiers in blue and gray Others in khaki, and green then say "We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine" The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain." From a man on sticks one could hear "The only thing we have to fear. The Newcomer said, "We know the rest, Trust us sir, we've passed that test." "Courage doesn't hide in caves You can't bury freedom, in a grave," The Newcomers had heard this voice before A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannis port shores A silence fell within the mist Somehow the Newcomer knew that this Meant time had come for her to say What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day "Back on Earth, we wrote reports, Watched our children play in sports Worked our gardens, sang our songs Went to church and clipped coupons We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought Unlike you, great we're not" The tall man in the stovepipe hat Stood and said, "Don't talk like that! Look at your country, look and see You died for freedom, just like me" Then, before them all appeared a scene Of rubbled streets and twisted beams Death, destruction, smoke and dust And people working just 'cause they must Hauling ash, lifting stones, Knee deep in hell, but not alone "Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman Side by side helping their fellow man!" So said Martin, as he watched the scene "Even from nightmares, can be born a dream." Down below three firemen raised The colors high into ashen haze The soldiers above had seen it before On Iwo Jima back in '45 The man on sticks studied everything closely Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly "I see pain, I see tears, I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear." "You left behind husbands and wives Daughters and sons and so many lives Are suffering now because of this wrong But look very closely. You're not really gone. All of those people, even those who've never met you All of their lives, they'll never forget you Don't you see what has happened? Don't you see what you've done? You've brought them together, together as one. With that the man in the stovepipe hat said "Take my hand," and from there he led Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven Author UNKNOWN (What a shame!) 5 years ago at the time of the first plane hit I was watching the news already ready to start my day. Everyone thought it was just an airliner accident. I prayed for the people in the tower. A dear friend called me to tell me what happened he could not reach anyone else but his family just me. He was right across from the towers literally right below the south tower near the side where the second plane hit. I kept telling him to get out of there get somewhere safe. When the second plane hit I remember screaming NO at the TV scaring the hell out of the cats and my family. I yelled him run God run now get the hell out of there. We were both in tears on the phone. He was telling me to tell his family that he loved them and we both thought he was going to die right there. I remember the screams in the backgrounds, the shouts and his tears my tears than silence. I remember holding on tight to my family praying to all that was good please let them be ok. I tried calling back but only got his voice mail I promised him his family would know that they were in his thoughts. I made so many phone calls that morning trying to find my family and friends. I had a family member in a building near the towers we could not find her and no one knew were she was. We were all glued to the TV looking for answers when I saw the report on the pentagon attacks. I fell to my knees saying no no n o for a cousin works in the building. We could not find her for 14 hours. I called out for answers the only answer I had was silence. No one could tell us anything no one had answers. The rest of the day was glued to the TV sitting in silence stunned, violated, nauseated, feeling the hatred, asking for forgiveness for the hatred. When the announcement of flight 93 came out I just sat there emotional stunned. I watched them pull some fire fighters out of the rubble and the first call he did was to his mother to say "I am ok,I am sorry that I scared you, I love you". I remembering saying thank you in a silent prayer I watched the people; looking for my cousin, that had evacuated the pentagon sitting in the field where a makeshift trama area had been made. When the repost came in that there was still people trapped inside and everyone even the injured ones stood up and went running back to help. I thought heroes all of them and prayed for them and their families when the towers fell. I thought the world had ended That evening I received the calls I had been praying for my friend had made it out of the area he had to walk home many miles, My cousins was stuck on the freeway for hours in the evacuation. We did not find our other family member from the towers for 2 weeks. She is the type that disappears for weeks at a time when she feels like it ( b@tch ). I am sorry if this offends anyone but after 5 years I had to get this off my chest. Today in remembrance all I could do is shed tears at the 4 moments of silence. Wear a american flag pin to show support. Drive with my headlights on all day. To give a smile to the person as I held the door for them. To make sure I said thank you and you are welcome with a smile on my face. To makes sure heroes are remember somehow some way a small way to say thank you. You are not forgotten http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9/11 |
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