Where Were You 10 Years Ago?

It is the question that so many people ask about significant events that happen during a lifetime. For one generation, it was where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed. For another, where were you when you first heard about the Kennedy assassination.  So, where were you when you first heard about the terrorist attacks that happened ten years ago today?  I can remember it so clearly. Just like it happened yesterday.

I was on my way to work at American Airlines.  My brother-in-law Eddie and I were listening to 1310 the Ticket.  I could even tell you that he owned a white F-150 at that time. We were listening as the guys described the scene they were seeing on Channel 8, of this plane sticking out of the World Trade Center. At first, for a minute, I was thinking that they were talking about the World Trade Center that is in Dallas.  It took me a minute to understand they were talking about the one in New York City. Then, just as I was getting out of the truck, they described the scene as the second plane hit the second tower.  I knew then that our world was about to change.

I walked into the office. Two of my co-workers were there and I asked if they had heard.  They knew about that first plane.  I told them what I had just heard.  One of my co-workers confirmed what I was thinking.  This was a terrorist attack. No doubt about it. A few minutes later, we were walking through the office to the cafeteria for our morning ritual of filling cups with ice and grabbing our soda or coffee.  On the way there, another friend stopped us and whispered that one of our plane had hit the first tower.

Shock doesn't begin to describe they way we all felt at that news.  Surely that wasn't possible.  But, we soon learned just how possible it was and much more was to come. We were missing a second plane.  Then, an announcement that one of our flight attendants called into the security department to say that guys with box cutters had taken over the plane and nobody knew what would happen next. Unconfirmed reports of an American Airlines plane near the Pentagon were soon confirmed of having crashed there and we all began to fear the worst. 

When it was all said and done, the world as we all knew it had changed in ways than any of us could ever fathom.

Through it all, I am grateful to the many, many men and women who sacrificed their lives to try and save the lives of others.  To all of those people that  lost a friend or family member that day, I hope you can take some peace in knowing they were doing what they loved and that they will not be forgotten for the sacrifice they made.