If you ask a Baby Boomer what they were doing when Kennedy was assassinated, almost every time you’ll get a vivid recollection of events. They remember it like it was yesterday. Unfortunately, my generation now has a similar event that evokes such a strong emotional reaction.
Ever year I remember where I was on that day on 9/11/01 like it was yesterday. I made it to the work early, sitting in my office facing Downtown LaGrange. It was eerily quiet in our office because there were only two of us there, out of about 9 people. We drank our coffee and discussed trivialities for a while, until the phone rang.
Someone said a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and my co-worker turned on a radio so we could hear what was going on. We listened for in disbelief as different news agencies gave conflicting reports.
When the second plane crashed into the Twin Towers, we left the office and went to find a TV so we could get better information on what was going on. We found a gathering of people in the jewelry store downstairs. We watched the news replay the crashes again and again and again, with commentators debating over who was responsible for the attacks. I’ll never forget watching the first tower collapse, and saying “Oh my God” out loud along with several other people.
We walked back up to the office and tried to get more information online, but it seemed like the Internet was down. No matter what website we visited… CNN, Fox, ABC. There were so many people trying to get updates that the sites were just buckling under the sheer volume of visitors.
I think 50 years from now, I’ll still vividly remember the events of that day. Thinking of the nearly 3,000 people that died in the September 11 attacks, I am very fortunate that I did not lose any loved ones or personally know anyone that died that day.
I think it’s good to remember the September 11 attacks, and not just once a year. It reminds us that life is precious and short. That freedom is expensive. It reminds us to be thankful for everything we have, to be thankful that we live in the United States of America.
To all those that are fighting for our freedom, all over the world, thank you. To all the families of servicemen who died trying to rescue people, and to all the families of the victims of 9/11, we still remember.
