My parents were married in NYC on September 11, 1949. Normally I would have called them to wish them a Happy Anniversary when I awoke that Tuesday morning in 2001; with the 3 hours time difference I wouldn't have had to worry about waking them. But that year they were on a cruise that had sailed from NY Harbor just 2 days earlier.
We have a TV in our bedroom. Although we watch the news before bed each night, we never think to turn it on in the mornings. But for some unknown reason that day Tom did turn it on when our alarm went off around 6:00. The first plane had already hit the World Trade Center, and while we were watching the news reports in stunned disbelief a second plane slammed into the other tower. As horrific as that was, the news, of course, would just continue to get worse.
With family and friends who worked in or near the Twin Towers, and also at the Pentagon, it was some relief to find that all were safe and accounted for. However, my heart went out to those who were not so fortunate. They, of course, have suffered daily reminders of their loss over the past ten years, with a gaping hole where loved ones used to be.
I cannot fathom the thoughts of the firefighters and other emergency responders who streamed into the doomed buildings, especially after the first one collapsed. What was it like watching others rushing to escape the nightmare they were entering? They must have known their chances for survival were slim. Courage such as that is far beyond commendable, and I hope that is of some comfort to their grieving families and friends.
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