It’s hard to believe it’s been nine years since the terrible events on 9/11. I’ll pose the question just as my parent’s generation did when Kennedy was assassinated:
Where were you and what were you doing when it happened?
It’s amazing how you can remember all the details of that day. Personally for me it was just another workday at Prudential Carruthers (yes I’ve been with this great company for quite a while!). We didn’t have any televisions in the office and the times weren’t at the point where people were viewing broadcasts via video streaming on their computers but one of my co-workers did have a radio on. She came running out into the main work area and said “A plane just flew into the World Trade Center”. Everyone just froze and stared at her. What a horrible accident!
When news of the second plane hitting the buildings was announced it was clear to me that this was no accident. It wasn’t too long until we all felt and heard a “boom”. What was that!!? News of the Pentagon being hit was announced. That’s not too far from our office! I could see people running out of the building and getting into their cars and driving off. I could only assume they were en route home or to pick up children or family members at school/work. I tried calling my loved ones but all circuits were busy. I had friends and family that worked at the Pentagon on occasion and it was horrible not knowing if they were hurt in the “accident”. I recall the shock in learning of a fourth plane that crashed in Pennsylvania and later learning of the heroism of those on board; it brought tears to my eyes.
I did not lose any loved ones in the attack but there were plenty of people who did. This time of year is usually accompanied by email forwards with slide show files of the pictures from 9/11. It’s important that we remember the events that occurred but it is also very hard. Please feel free to share your thoughts or experiences if you would like and help us to honor the memory of those who died that day as well as honor those who are fighting for us today.
gonna send this to my mom