A Day of Remembrance and Reflection

It is hard to believe that today marks the 14^th anniversary of the horrific tragedy that occurred that is known at 9/11.  This is an event that took place in our modern society that redefined us as a country and as Americans.  This is a day that I will never forget and will always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the news of the first plane hitting one of the towers was made known.  I was sitting at my desk in my cube with my headphones on listening to my new Gospel music playlist I had just created the night before and I was all excited to get to my desk to finish out closing the books on one of my construction deals.  All of a sudden, a loud scream comes from the other side of the office.  One of our co-workers had received a phone call from her family and told her to find the nearest television set or to log onto the Internet because something tragic had happened in New York.  My co-worker’s fiancée was in the one of the towers of the World Trade Center. At the time, we were not sure which one.   I have never heard a scream or cry like this in my life and to this day, it is still in my heart. 

Immediately all of us stopped working and gathered in the main conference room as our company president instructed us to do where they had the television turned on.  Just as everyone was assembled, we witnessed the second plane hitting the second tower.  It was complete silence and then eventually everyone in the room were crying.  I could not believe what I was witnessing right before my eyes and then to watch both towers collapse was a scene that is forever embedded in my mind.  After about a couple of hours of watching the events unfold, we were told to go home.  I could not go home because I didn’t want to be by myself in my apartment so I drove to my parent’s house and stayed with them.  I just needed to be close to my family because I was completely shaken up by what I had just watched.

This day, September 11, 2001, will forever be a day that I will not forget.  My heart goes out to all of the families and friends who lost a loved one.  After 14 years, there are many who got out safely who are still battling depression.  Let us take this day and every day to remember those first responders and innocent victims who lost their lives on this day.