The day we caught a glimpse of hell: Remembering 9/11

Everyone knows where and what they were doing when this nightmare called 9/11 happened. My husband Chuck was getting ready for work and I was on the computer, watching TV when those horrible images appeared. I had the TV on mute so all I saw were flames coming out of one of the Towers. I turned on the sound and the words were incomprehensible. For some reason, even before I knew why and what, tears had sprung from my eyes. It’s funny how your gut instincts take over before your mind even registers what’s happening.

Chuck came into the kitchen and we both just stood and stared at the horror happening before us. He went to the phone, called the office and cancelled work that day. He told his secretary to tell everyone who was there to go home and collect their loved ones.

I really still can’t believe a tragedy like this happened. Whenever I hear the victims’ names read on the news at the exact hour the planes hit, I cry again. Twenty-three years ago, 2,606 people were killed when two planes slammed into the World Trade Center. Another 125 died when a third plane hit the Pentagon. Forty more were killed when hijacked United flight 93 crashed in a Pennsylvania field. So many lives, so many families that will never be the same.

The terrorists promised to return and I don’t doubt they are planning and plotting every moment of every day. I still wonder if and when another tragedy will strike. I especially think about it on this horrible day when we all saw a glimpse of hell. I was proud to see the way Americans dealt with this, coming together as one, proudly displaying the American Flag, honoring our heroes.

But we will, I hope, heed Winston Churchill’s words when he spoke at Harrow School in London on October 29, 1941, “Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Amen Winston….amen……

(Article republished 9/11/24)