When I woke up this morning, I immediately noticed the date on my phone. September 11, 2018. Seventeen years ago, September 11 started off as a normal day for the American people. We were in the first year of the George W. Bush administration and the second year of the new millennium. Summer was ending, fall was beginning. Just an average day.
But just before 9:00am, it became clear that it was far from just an average day. An airplane hijacked by hate-filled, Al-Qaeda militants slammed into the North Tower of New York City’s World Trade Center. For the American people, the rest of the morning was a blur.
To thousands of men and women who responded to the disaster, our nation owes the deepest gratitude. From the emergency workers who risked their lives, many perishing, to save the lives of others; to the brave folks inside the crumbling buildings who helped lead people to safety; to the heroes aboard hijacked Flight 93 who courageously prevented an attack on the U.S. Capitol; to the air traffic control personnel who quickly cleared all United States airspace in order to prevent further attacks; to the reporters who kept citizens informed on the latest breaking news; to the teachers and parents across the country who spoke calming words to millions of terrified children.
Each year on September 11, we remember the largest terrorist attack in world history and mourn the lost of nearly 3,000 individuals. Words spoken by President Bush in an initial address to the American people were true seventeen years ago and still ring true today. “These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.”
God Bless America.
Regina
That day still gives me chills.
Anonymous
Ellie, Thank you for this tribute. We watched the memorial on television this morning. It still is so painful. Our friend lost a brother. God Bless all.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Candi
We were in NYC right at that time. We were staying in upper Manhattan and I heard those planes because they were lower than usual and seemed flying right beside us or right above us. Of course I didn’t know what was going to go on at the moment. I got chills after knowing what happened that it most likely was those planes I heard and trying to imagine what was going on inside at that time…it must of been horrific.
Ellie
Wow, that’s very eerie. Hearing from people who were in Manhattan at the time is chilling. It was a very difficult day for all Americans (and most of the world), but for those in New York City, it was SO much more difficult. Especially those with loved ones who were victims. I can’t imagine.
Anonymous
Thank you for your post. It is so important that we never forget the price paid by so many people and the strength and courage shown by so many. ~C
Anonymous
In Manhattan, low flying planes or loud plane noises still make me stop and look up. I know I’m not alone in that. So many planes come up the Hudson on approach or down it on take off, or in and out over Brooklyn/Queens. You learn which ones look normal and seem to be in the normal flight paths and heights. So when there’s something the least bit abnormal, you’re extra attentive and sort of hold your breath for a moment til the plane safely passes.
Barb
Thank you for your wonderful words to honor the day, those who died and those left to remember. My granddaughter was due about six weeks after 9/11. I remember thinking that it would be a different United States for her than the country we had grown up in. Now, 17 years later, I see in some ways it is different in that we are less naive and have learned to be more alert, cautious, and protective. But at its heart, we are still a free and caring country under God. Nothing can take that from us, our children, our grandchildren. Thank you again, Ellie, for your voice. Barb
Anonymous
I don’t feel we’re as alert, cautious, or protective as we could be. Someone half asleep at the American Airlines desk at LaGuardia Airport (NYC) issued me the boarding pass of another passenger by mistake, and I got through 2 security checkpoints plus onto the plane with it, before armed TSA agents came to my seat and demanded to see my ID and my boarding pass……. So essentially, I got on a plane using someone else’s pass. The only way they caught it was because the other passenger came later than I did, and his boarding pass (which was the same as mine) wouldn’t scan. They were totally confused about why until they tracked me down, already on the plane.
I have a bunch more airport security horror stories, but we’ll leave it at that one, one of my favorites.
Ellie
Yikes! That’s frightening. Did it happen recently?
Barb
PS – may the beautiful child you are expecting come to know and be blessed by all this country has to give. Barb
Ellie
Thank you, Barb!