NINE-ELEVEN, NOT AN ANNIVERSARY BUT A REMEMBERANCE!

C

Captains Cat

New member
The papers and other media are full of "Anniversary" things. Anniversaries to me are a happy time, this is certainly not.

This is a time for Rememberance, Reflection and Resolve. The three "R's, in a different light if you will.

Where were you? What were your thoughts?

Sally and I were at our home in Maine, not really on vacation, but just living and working in another house of ours for a month or two. I got an e-mail from the office and we turned on the TV. Wow.

Called my office in Crystal City, near the Pentagon after awhile, talked to a woman colleague about the events of the morning. While on the phone, she said "I think something just hit the Pentagon". She could see the smoke and felt the tremors, about 3/4 mile away.

I will never forget, WE WILL NEVER FORGET

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I was at work.

Another meaning of anniversary is commemorate

Recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony

- a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the war dead


Serve as a memorial to

- a stone commemorating a boy who died at sea


Mark (a significant event)

- the City of Boston commemorated the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America


Celebrate (an event, a person, or a situation) by doing or building something

- it was a night commemorated in a s
 
We were in Van Horn Texas and the transmission of our RV had failed. The rebuilt transmission had been obtained from El Paso early that AM, and was being installed. We were watching the TV and saw the news unfold. We were in route to Calif. and had to be in Calif. for my daughter's surprise birthday party, If we could not get the motor home fixed I was going to fly to Calif. We did not have our "Toad" because on the way back to Pensacola I was going to pick up a trawler in Clear Lake and deliver it to Pensacola. We were not sure we could make the party because of the delay, and ended up making the rest of the trip in less than 2 days--arriving only an hour before the party. Of course there were many thoughts about what happened with our nation under attack. One of my daughter's close friends and her family were on the first plane which hit the WTC--so it was a very difficult time for her and her husband.

The images which are etched in my mind for ever are those of the people jumping off the upper floors of the buildings to their certain deaths.

We camped at Dockweiler State beach, and this is normally under the flight pattern of LAX--there were no planes flying for the first several days we were there.

It is a testimony of America that there have been no successful mass attacks on our citizens in the US since then. I used the word "mass" specifically to exclude some individual actions. It is a time to pause and reflect on what our country is and where it is going, as well as memorialize both those lost in the planes, buildings, amoungst the first responders and military who have continued in our countries policies since.
 
I was driving mixer for Folsom ready mix in Sacramento. When the first plane hit I thought " what a tragic accident" "The pilot must have had a heart attack" I was in the drives office at the yard watching the tv between loads when the second one hit. I called Susan to tell her that our country was under attack. Between my third and forth delivery of the day I watched as the towers fell with all the guys in the office. It was just silent for awhile afterwards. I will never forget it.
 
I had worked the night shift, and had just gotten home from about 14 hours of work when the news of the first plane come on. We sat, shocked, stunned, and totaly dumfounded as the days events broke over the news.

So many heros that day, but the most memorable for me were the ones in the plane, knowing they were going to be the next bomb decided to stop it before they flew into the White House. Quick thinking and unparalleled, unselfish determination.....

Let's roll

Our nation needs to come together again, like we did then, and take on the future, doing what needs to be done and doing it right.

Let's Roll

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

PS: My oversize boat flag will be up for the day, Sunday 9/11/11

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I don't think I can watch TV this weekend - all the networks are having "anniversary" specials. We were just about to head for work when the news broke of the first plane hitting. While the newscasters were picking their words carefully, it was apparent that this was no accident. Then came the next... and the next... and the next.

My first thought was "What kind of demented mind could even fathom this?" My next thought was: retribution.

What kind of evil can use innocent civilians in this heinous manner? What kind of twisted logic can even think this?

Our world will never be the same. The freedom of easy travel that we once knew is gone forever. Our sense of fair play has been tainted; it is hard for many of us to understand why people who know nothing of us can hate us so much.

Our time here in the Tetons is getting short. We have to run drills each month for the captain and first mate crew... MOB, fire drills, emergency procedures, life boat deployment, etc. This month, I had to introduce "security issues": suspicious package left aboard, unusual behavior. So much for my "fun" summer job.

We are forever changed. Not for the better. I don't need the networks to tell us what happened 10 years ago... the reminders are all around us.

We will never forget.
 
I was in Amersham England at the time (at the company Amersham Pharmacia). We saw the first news of it mid day on large screen televisions in the employee cafeteria. I couldn't believe my eyes. I definitely remember and will never forget. We've all been affected in many ways but we shouldn't forget those who were affected the most - those who lost their lives and the families of those individuals.

I wound up being trapped in the UK for several extra days at the time. All the English were especially nice to any American who was there. It was nice to realize that America still had good friends around the world and the Brits are some of our best.
 
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