In Remembrance of 9/11/01
From http://libertyip.blogspot.com
On September 11, 2001, I remember being at home and watching the morning network news program abruptly break their normal coverage and start broadcasting pictures of first plane's crash site at the World Trade Center, (North) Tower. Then, while they were showing American Airlines Flight 11's crash site, United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the second Tower. It was utterly astonishing. Next, United Airlines 77 crashed at the Pentagon. It really did seem like America was under attack by a foreign army. Later, the news began reporting the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
I remember driving on Pennsylvania Avenue to my office in S.E. Washington, D.C. and seeing faint black clouds in the distance just beyond the U.S. Capitol Building. Do you remember what you were doing?
On September 11, 2001, I remember being at home and watching the morning network news program abruptly break their normal coverage and start broadcasting pictures of first plane's crash site at the World Trade Center, (North) Tower. Then, while they were showing American Airlines Flight 11's crash site, United Airlines Flight 175 flew into the second Tower. It was utterly astonishing. Next, United Airlines 77 crashed at the Pentagon. It really did seem like America was under attack by a foreign army. Later, the news began reporting the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
I remember driving on Pennsylvania Avenue to my office in S.E. Washington, D.C. and seeing faint black clouds in the distance just beyond the U.S. Capitol Building. Do you remember what you were doing?
Yes. As a New Yorker, it effected my life deeply. I do not know anyone who was killed that day--but the reality of the horror of the attack came right into my living room. The smell--the odor of toxic fumes from that hellish black smoke hovered over the whole city for weeks.
My wife works in Manhattan so getting her home was an all day task--all the roads into Manhattan were closed.
When I finally was allowed to drive over the Verrazano VBridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, which ordinarily gives you a gorgeous panorama of the NY skyline, there was the fiery pit spewing a cloud of black smoke.
And the gaping hole where the towers had been.
I drove into Manhattan this morning--the police presence was massive--this time to keep the peace for the dignified remembrance ceremonies--and the raucous pro and anti Islam demonstrations.
It is a shame that we as a nation are beginning to lose touch with our core values--one of them is freedom of religion.
I sincerely hope we, as a nation, remember that one of the reasons folks come here from other countries is so they can be free to worship in their own way.