Remembering 9/11: Personal Reflections

I must beg your pardon for a little personal reflection. I was a high school senior when the 9/11 attacks took place. I was on the cross country team and since all athletic practices were cancelled; my teammate and best friend in high school went for a run at his place on our own. It seemed to be the only thing that made sense. It was something normal on an extremely abnormal day. It was a beautiful day outside as well. I made my trip home from his place listening to the various stations that were tracking some of the events of the day and what President Bush’s location was. As I got close to home, President Bush was just getting back to Washington and according to the commentator (I’ve long since forgotten who it was), he looked not morose or depressed, but determined and serious. I felt better knowing that he was back in Washington because I knew he could help. I didn’t have any true political bearings at that age, but I knew that President Bush would protect us.

My parents were both very upset and shaken as well when I got home. I was hearing grisly details of the attacks’ aftermath bit by bit and I was amazed at the difference between the relative tranquility of where I was compared with the hell occurring in New York City and at the Pentagon. I had been watching from the comfort of my classroom when the second tower (the first one struck) fell. It was a sick feeling watching hundreds of people die like that and I, in my second hour Chaucer class, cried with my head in my hands.

Getting home that quiet night, I had the people of Washington and New York City in my thoughts and many fervent prayers (along with countless other Americans and others around the world). I did not know anyone that died in the attacks and did not have any relatives or friends living in New York City or Washington. But as I went to bed I thought of the night setting in on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Ashes, mortar, steel, bricks, flying papers, and burning fuselage dominated their night while I heard crickets outside my bedroom window. It was only 24 hours ago that the buildings still stood and the now deceased were sleeping in preparation for going to work that Tuesday morning.

I thought of the Fire Department of New York, the New York Police Department, and the emergency responders in Washington. Most of the responders had never met any of the victims and were working well past their normal hours. They kept going because Americans could still be saved. I felt incredibly weak and helpless in my bed that night. I still do today from time to time.

Tonight I remember how awful that night must have been in New York City and in Washington. I was and still am incredibly thankful for the police, firefighters, and emergency responders. Be thankful that they are in your respective communities. They are protecting us every day and night. I felt a little safer that night knowing that. This along with knowing that President Bush would do everything in his power to protect us helped me and many Americans sleep that night.