9/11: So much has changed.

[boscosticks]

[i understand not all ARC members are American, but please bear with me]

We've always said that we'll never forget, but as I look back now, I can't believe that it has been 10 years since the horrible events of 9/11 took place. The events of that day united a country within an instant, but has that unity lasted? Have we forgotten?

In recent months, I've noticed much hostility among Americans -- Democrat vs Republican, Tea Party vs America, Left vs Right... the list goes on. I remember that on that fateful morning, I was only in the 6th grade, my classmates and I were glued to the TV. Young, innocent, naive of the world, it took the repeated images of New York and the endless news reports for reality to finally sink in. I remember I looked around the classroom that morning and realized that my peers weren't Indian, Black, Asian, White, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic. In all of our eyes we saw and understood, with appreciation and acknowledgement, that we were all American. Our bravest and strongest heroes seemed so vulnerable, yet we stood united and strong and supported one another through those dark days.

Remember when you woke up and heard the news?

Remember when you saw the first, second planes hit?

Remember the first responders who rushed to the scene?

Remember when the towers fell or the empty void it left?

Remember how we spent days to search for and rescue survivors?

Remember how, as a nation and a world, we came together?

However you recall that day, just remember it. Today of all days, remember it. Never forget.

"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." - Winston Churchill

Father Mychal Judge, being carried away after he was fatally struck by falling debris while giving a person their Last Rites.

Epitomizing America: Hurt, but still standing tall.

"...our flag was still there... o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."

To the heavens the towers once reached, in the heavens the towers now sleep.

Please feel free to share any memories or experiences from that tragic day. Perpetuate the memory.

J.B.B.

San Jose, CA, USA

9/11/11

Edited September 11, 2011 by boscosticks

[Steve N]

Even though I work in the broadcast media, I actually slept through the entire thing. I was working the overnight shift at a radio station, and gave my last on-air news update at 0830, then went home. I would have been walking in the door about the time the first plane hit. Normally, I would flip on the TV and unwind for a bit, but that day I was tired and just went straight to bed.

I got up around 4:00 pm, and when I checked my answering machine there was a message from my uncle (USN Ret.) saying "how's it feel to be in a country at war." Puzzled, I flipped on the TV and logged on the internet (dialup that took forever to connect in those days.) The TV was showing video of the burning towers, and I was trying to piece together what had happened. I thought "wow..even once those fires are out the buildings won't be repairable..how do you safely demolish a pair of 110-story skyscrapers?" Then my internet finally connected and Yahoo! popped up with a pic of Ground Zero (remember when that was just an obscure military term?) After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I thought "well, looks like they finished what they started in '93."

Living in Michigan, I didn't have any really direct connection to the events or know anyone directly involved (my landlady was indirectly affected..she worked at the local Federal building, and was sent home early when they evacuated.) One of the things I remember most vividly is the sky. I was driving home from a hobby shop the previous evening, and thought "that would be a beautiful sunset if it weren't for all the contrails." The next night at work I stepped outside and looked up. The night of the 11th was crystal clear, but from horizon to horizon, for the first time in my life I didn't see a single aircraft strobe. It's one of those things you're so used to it doesn't even register, until it's absent.

I hope everyone takes a moment to pause today and not only remember those we lost, but the sense of unity we gained, and maybe think about getting a bit of that back.

SN

[HOLMES]

J.B.B

Very poignant and well articulated...Thank You you for those wise words.

HOLMES

[TaiidanTomcat]

People say they will never forget, but they don't exactly like being reminded either. A lot of people forgot.

[Gundamhead]

It all but killed the aviation industry. From airlines to GA.

[TaiidanTomcat]

It all but killed the aviation industry. From airlines to GA.

Yeah I have recently taken Homeland security's message to heart: I don't like it, so I don't fly. thanks for keeping it simple, Gov! Haven't flown commercial since the X-ray machine/pat-down procedure.

Edited September 11, 2011 by TaiidanTomcat

[toadwbg]

Thanks for posting the pics.

[Berkut]

Haven't flown commercial since the X-ray machine/pat-down procedure.

A bit off topic, but i believe they have changed the way machine scans. Now they see a generic version of the human (basically outline, nothing to do with how the person scanned actually looks, fat thin etc). The suspicious objects x-ray finds, are marked out in yellow.

[Flight 666]

I remember that day exactly.

I was working near an US-Army Base in Kitzingen/Germany.

Round 15°° Tanks and MP closed the road to Base , no one in, no one out, and I really wonder about whats going on.

Later when I went home and I was looking the news, I just couldn't believe whats on the screen.

When I was living in Ansbach, I had a lot of at Hindenburg Barracks and Katterbach Air Field and so I feld very very sad.

Today I´m look that the hole day and feel the same than 10 years ago.

Flying is not that easy sins this days but I can understand and better control the being hijacked .

[zerosystem]

i was just beginning my sophomore year at college, with my first computer...

i had been excited about listening to a radio show online and couldn't understand why it was a different voice...then mentioning of the plane strike, the skyscrapers being closed all over the country, the mixed reports about other buildings being hit.

ran downstairs to the lobby of the dorm where there was a mass gathered around the tv there and much like Steve's experience noticed that there was only 1 tower in the picture. many were asking where it was, i wish i didn't put it together that quickly...

the news broadcast had a small live window of the north tower still burning as they showed previous footage of the people jumping and the planes hitting the south tower. then slowly watching that small window on the bottom of the screen, the north tower came down.

i don't remember much after that, except people asking to borrow my cell phone as i was one of the few who had one at the time...the jammed phone lines i remember vividly.

after that in the afternoon in the following days whether in the dorm, class or on the way to either i remember looking up and hearing the sound of jets, seeing the f-15's out of otis flying full armed combat air patrols over boston...

[SBARC]

One story that didn't get much coverage was the over ten thousand mostly American airline passengers coming home on Sept 11 that were on airliners that were unable to enter the closed US air space.

These passengers were mostly diverted to Vancouver, Canada on the West coast and Gander, Canada on the East coast.

Gander is a town of about 7,000 people that opened up their hearts and homes to about 7,000 stranded passengers for the few days that the border and US airspace was closed. These passengers were well cared for until they were able to continue their trip home.

Many of the stranded American passengers have returned to Gander over the years to visit their new Canadian friends that helped them in their time of need.

In the past few days Gander received a large piece of a twisted girder from one of the WTC towers. And this steel will be part of Ganders museum to their involvement in the events shortly after 9-11.

[ChippyWho]

Indeed, I am not American (except, possibly, by inclination!), but I recall being in the car, listening to the first news report I'd heard that day on the radio, because I'd been busy working...just thought it was all some kind of hoax for a few precious seconds.

I do not propose to attempt the appropriation of what is, after all, an American event -but it was like the world seemed to be coming to an end on a perfectly normal September afternoon.

The world did not end, of course, but something did -I'm afraid we'll never get it back.

I still offer my feeble prayers for those who lost their lives so tragically, and for those who did not, and were left to survive as best they can.

[fulcrum1]

There was a great special done on one of those small Canadian communities that took in several thousand people with their small airport, I gotta look it up.

[Litvyak]

I was at the supermarket, and ran into a Russian friend of mine who excitedly began going on in his then-horrible English mixed with Russian about an airplane and a building in New York... I had no idea what he was talking about, didn't think anything further of it. As I was walking across the parking lot, I overheard two people talk about the airport being closed, didn't catch the why, though... I kept walking home, when I turned a corner I heard a sound overhead - CF-18s. THAT's when it clicked that something is really not right. Got home, turned the TV on... still didn't want to believe it, my brain was trying to convince me that that was just some superb special effects... but every channel same thing... and then I started crying, and thought of my mother, who lives in the US and travels a lot, often to New York, too. Couldn't get in touch with her until late that night, that was some nervous hours...

[tango35]

I had just arrived at Pristina Airport, Kosova, back from Holidays through my first deployment to the Balkans (KFOR 3.EinsKtgt). It was an surreal situation, because from one second to another the peaceful atmosphere changed. Cellphones were ringing and my soldier, who was with me in holidays, told me that an airplane crashed in one tower. Seconds later we knew the bloody truth about the attacks. Than Orders were given to take on Helmets, vests and our escort ( an APC Fuchs ) was now on fully alert. For the next 72 hrs we were on AA ++ ( it was a german alert state code ).

Thomas

[The_Animal]

bosco, although the majority of those killed in the Towers were American, it was not just an American tragedy. It was a world tragedy that unfolded on an American stage. 236 foreign lives were extinguished that day as well. So when people turn around and say "Why should we care, it's an American tragedy"...they are more wrong than they know. Until 9/11, Pearl Harbor stood as the ultimate tragedy on American soil. Now the whole Western world woke up to the fact that our way of life was under attack.

To my dying day, I will remember what I was doing the day the planes hit the Towers and the Pentagon. And as you said before, life has never been the same since. I worked security that night and the next day...and for the first time in my life, I saw CF-18s patrolling the skies over Burnaby (where I was on security shift at my station at a mall) and the Fraser Valley (keeping a watch over potentially sensitive targets) on a constant Combat Air Patrol armed with live missiles on their pylons fully loaded ready to shoot down anything that looked like an aerial threat.

It was also brought down in a message from my security company that we were to halt anybody entering the mall who was behaving suspiciously and to keep surveillance on those who were suspicious-looking. And though it wasn't stated, by my shift supervisor, they tacitly implied with regards to the latter: it meant anybody who was clad in Arab garb of Muslim faith ie: burkhas and kufis

Edited September 11, 2011 by The_Animal

[ross blackford]

I was sound asleep at that time (about 0130 here) when my nightowl cousin rang. She said "Have you got your tv on?" I replied "Don't be silly Janice, We're asleep." She then said "Well go and turn it on. Someone's just flown a plane into one of towers of the World Trade Centre in New York." I told her "Pull the other leg Jan, it plays Jingle Bells." She prevailed upon me and I did so and what I saw shocked me to the core. Our world has indeed changed since that day. When my mother came out to see what was going on we both sat there in horror as first one tower then the other came down. We knew there would be probably thousands dead and many, many injured. Rest in Peace all you brave people who lost your lives, both rescuers and those waiting to be rescued who didn't make it through. And to the bravest of all, those responders who went in and did their jobs quietly and calmly and brought many out alive. We salute you all. I that this won't happen again, but unfortunately I've seen too much of human nature. As Ken said, I wish we could just unite in our various hobbies, all over the world and study war no more. But that is a wishful thought I know.

It's now Monday 12th September here. I wish all my American friends and aquaintences a safe day and hope that nothing happens over there today. Remember in dignity and in safety. To all your Armed Forces and Security agencies, keep your eyes peeled and ears open today for the sake of your nation and countrymen. I know it would be afternoon there now but there is still much of the 11th left over there. Be safe my friends.

Ross.

[Litvyak]

and for the first time in my life, I saw CF-18s patrolling the skies over Burnaby (where I was on security shift at my station at a mall)

I don't suppose it was Middlegate?

I guess then you know exactly my thought when I first saw the Hornets on CAP over Kingsway... "waitaminute, I'm in Vancouver..."

[SBARC]

I remember the local newspaper hired 24 hour security guards to patrol their property immediately after Sept 11....at the time I thought this was the height or paranoia as we are an isolated city on an island in Canada. In hindsight it was just an example of the paranoia that happened after the events in New York and Washington. But at the time no one knew the extent of the network that was responsible for the attacks.

[dkobayashi]

I remember my dad waking me up and telling me that a plane had hit the world trade center, the first thing I thought was that it was just a small Cessna or something- until I saw the first tower burning on TV. Then, the second plane hit, I will NEVER forget that. I remember we were watching coverage on CNN, and the moment the first tower fell nobody knew what happened, but we all guessed it, and the dust cleared. I went to school afterwards and everyone was talking about it. They didn't show it on the TV, so we all didn't know if there were more attacks or what.

Anyways, if any of you Vancouverites saw, about 20 minutes ago Heli-Jet flew a missing man formation over the city.

[PetarB]

My first child - a daughter - was born on 9/11/2001.

It really put things into perspective. I was afraid for her future, instantly that day - the perfect storm - I was worried about a lot of things.

But as the father of a daughter, I now know that islamic fundamentalism is not a world I want for her.

Hopefully she grows into a contributing, creative and good human being.

My thoughts now are with the people of NY. The last time I was in NY I stood at the top floor of the World Trade Centre with my wife, gazing on what Vonnegut called 'Skyscraper National Park'. I'm saddened about the fact that I'll never be able to take my daughters up there again. And what's more, the visit there will be one of sadness about the madness of humanity, and not to view one of the most amazing cities in the world.

[Les / Creative Edge Photo]

Yeah I have recently taken Homeland security's message to heart: I don't like it, so I don't fly. thanks for keeping it simple, Gov! Haven't flown commercial since the X-ray machine/pat-down procedure.

If you are going to get felt up, at least they can take you out to dinner and buy you some champagne.

It's all security theatre to better placate a paranoia among many people today.

[Tankcommander]

I live in New Jersey I was on the way to a job site (worked landscaping)and heard about the first plane on local radio, then the second. On the way home I could see the NYC skyline and the colums of smoke. It was strange at work the next day with no planes in the sky. I was with a crew that did work on the Coast Guard base on Staten Island that looked right at the Trade Center, just a smoking empty space. I had to respond to the attack on our country in someway so as a drilling National Guardsman I volunteered for airport duty when President Bush called for volunteers. My best friend worked 2 blocks away from the Trade Center and watched the second plane hit and the people jumping. My current boss was NYPD and lost his partner in the collapse. He used his belt to stop the bleeding on a womens arm.

Funny thing is I lived in this area all my life except for my military service and never went in those buildings, and now I never will. I will go to the top of the Freedom Tower when its finished.

TC

Edited September 12, 2011 by Tankcommander

[deadmeat]

Where was I? I was in my first week at Verizon Wireless going through training and orientation when the trainer got a call from a friend talking about a single engine plane hitting the WTC. A bit later we heard about the second plane and that's when we knew it wasn't an accident, it was war. Training came to an end that day so we found a TV with really crappy reception and just watched and watched and watched. I always remember the sky that day...clear as a bell....September 11 Blue....

A couple weeks later I was taking calls as a customer care monkey (worst...job....ever...). One of my first calls was from a woman whose flights was diverted to Nova Scotia when US airspace was closed. She had passed her cell phone around to a bunch of passengers and let them make calls to loved ones while they sat on the tarmac and arrangements were sorted out. She proceeded to use the phone (along with a lot of other people at her insistence) until they got home. She racked up some HUGE overage charges and wanted to know if there was anything we could do. I voided out the whole bill.

[SBARC]

A couple weeks later I was taking calls as a customer care monkey (worst...job....ever...). One of my first calls was from a woman whose flights was diverted to Nova Scotia when US airspace was closed. She had passed her cell phone around to a bunch of passengers and let them make calls to loved ones while they sat on the tarmac and arrangements were sorted out. She proceeded to use the phone (along with a lot of other people at her insistence) until they got home. She racked up some HUGE overage charges and wanted to know if there was anything we could do. I voided out the whole bill.

That's really cool.