Reflections After 23 Years

Everything Was Normal - Until it Wasn't

The day began just as any other would for most people in the United States. People were starting their day, heading to work or school, their normal routines. When 8:46 a.m. arrived, no one was prepared for what was about to unfold. One young mother, Lisa, had just dropped her child off at school and was on her way home when she heard something on the radio about an explosion in New York. Lisa wondered what was going on as she arrived back home and went inside the house to turn the news on. She was not prepared for what she saw when she turned the television on at 9:01 a.m. and saw the flames and smoke from the first tower. As she watched and listened to the reports of a plane hitting the tower, she thought it was a terrible accident - until at 9:03 a.m. when she watched as a second plane flew into view on the television screen and crashed deliberately into the second tower. Her heart shattered as she stared in disbelief at the screen, silence on the air as people struggled to comprehend if they had truly seen what their eyes told them they saw.

"I felt my heart sink into my chest as my jaw fell opened while staring at the carnage on the tv screen. I began to cry as the reality of the situation unfolding hit me."

Lisa cried for several moments as she watched the horror continue on the television screen. She was filled with sorrow, disbelief, and confusion over what was occurring, then at 9:31 a.m. President Bush was speaking on the television screen and he spoke the words "terrorist attack on our country." The fear began to set in as Lisa struggled to comprehend what this would mean and how this could happen in the United States. Lisa quickly called her daughter's school and told them that she was checking her out early, then immediately drove to pick her up as fear overwhelmed her, and she did not trust her daughter to be at school in that moment.

When she arrived back home with her daughter, Lisa continued to watch the heartbreaking scene as it continued across her television screen. Her daughter asked her why she was crying and Lisa struggled as she tried to explain to her young child that a great evil act had just taken place in the country. She knew her child wouldn't truly understand it, but she did not want to lie or hide what was happening from her child, since this would no doubt become a defining moment of change for the United States. Lisa called her husband to see if he had seen what was happening as he somberly told her he had seen the news while he was at work. He was not allowed to leave early though, despite this tragedy that had occurred - his bosses decided that while they would leave early to be with their families, the employees had to remain working - after all, it was still a business.

Military on Alert

Robert was a Sergeant in the United States Army in Illinois stationed near Chicago. He was off duty and enjoying his time off when the events began to unfold the morning of September 11th, 2001. He saw the television screen and at that same moment, his phone rang and he was called to report to duty. He did not question or argue because he knew something tragic had occurred and he quickly headed to report per orders. He was not prepared for the emotional toll of these orders as his unit quickly dispatched to the Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois. There were reports that it was going to be targeted for an attack, similar to what happened in New York.

"I'll never forget evacuating people from the Sears Tower because of reports that it was going to be hit next. My unit was dispatched to help the locals evacuate the area since no one knew if there would be more cities attacked or not. I remember standing up on the roof of that tower, looking through the scope for anything in the skies. The air was so thick and my hands were shaking from the reality of this situation happening here in my home. I'll never forget that day."

Luckily, no attacks took place in Chicago, Illinois that day, but Robert still knew that many of his brothers in uniform were suffering in New York and at the Pentagon in Virginia. Just after the first tower in New York collapsed at 9:59 a.m., Robert and his unit stood in silence as they were told that the first tower collapsed in New York, and again when the second tower fell shortly after. Chicago was eerily quiet as they continued their watch over the Sears Tower until they knew they were clear from threats. Robert and his unit knew that their duties were just beginning that day because this type of attack on American soil would require a strong military response.

Never Forget

For Lisa and Robert, the memories of September 11th, 2001 are etched in their mind, every moment and every emotion. Many others in the United States have the day carved in their soul, second by second, as a country was watching the terror unfold on their television screens - or facing them directly for those in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. What followed September 11th, 2001 were days of togetherness as people from all over the country stood together as Americans united against the terrorism that took so many lives that terrifying day.

What also followed was hatred and fear towards persons who appeared to be from the country responsible for the devastating terrorist attack on American soil. Muslims all over the country were targeted and harassed for their beliefs, accused of being terrorists and murderers. The hate that continued for years after September 11th, 2001 was heartbreaking and kept the nation from healing for way too long. It is important to remember on this 23rd anniversary of this American tragedy that hate is never the way to heal, nor is it a way to prevent a repeat of history. Remember the lives lost 23 years ago and honor their memory by refusing to allow hate and fear to control actions. The United States of America will truly never forget the horrific terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, but do not let the fear and anger cause blindness to the point of hating a race or religion.

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