I still remember (as if it were yesterday) the moment I heard about an airplane hitting a building in New York. I was a college kid at the time (Pre-Med Major) and I was walking through the Quad on my college’s campus when I heard someone say they were going to the chapel to pray for everyone who was in some building hit by a plane. I had no clue at that moment what building they were talking about or what the situation really was. I remember hearing a girl about my age say “My mom was in that building today” and I remember my heart sinking. Even though I didn’t know her I felt so bad that she was going through such a horrible moment in her life it really upset me. So I went back to my apartment, turned on the TV, and was hoping to find more information on what I had just heard. I never expected to see what I saw when I turned on my TV. That was the exact moment they showed the World Trade Center falling to the ground in a cloud of dust. I couldn’t believe my eyes and then it hit me that there were going to be hundreds if not thousands of people just like the girl I had just seen in the Quad. I knew there were going to be so many people hurt by this and so many lives lost by this, but I still didn’t know why?
It was later on that I found out it was “a terrorist attack” on our country. This moment really opened my eyes and for the years since this occurred I have really had a different take on life and family. I have always been close to my family, but not any closer than after 9/11. Visualizing such a horrific event and being around the very people that it hurts can really make you open your eyes even wider than they may have already been opened. For me I realized that I didn’t spend enough time with my family because I was so committed to school, being a doctor, and trying to run a business all at the same time. I quickly realized “family” matters more than school, education, money, business or pretty much just anything else you can think of at the moment. I started going home more frequently and spending more time with my parents. I love them so much and I really feel blessed to have had them with me for so long. I think this was the first time it really hit me that other people are not always able to spend so many years with their parents.
I hope our country learned from 9/11 that coming together and acting as one great nation is really the key to our success and power in the world economy. Never have I seen people of all colors, race, ages, genders whatever ban together like I did after 9/11. For the first time, at least in my life, I saw our country as a unified group instead of many different people with different agendas and different views. It was really an amazing thing to see people actually proud to fly the American Flag at their house or put a decal of the flag on their car. 9/11 proved that we as a nation are in fact proud to be in the greatest nation this world has ever seen, America. It also proved that we tend to forget that until moments of tragedy strike us.
My hope is that we will all remember today just how it felt to unify and come together. Remember where you were, what you were doing, and how you first heard of what happened in NY that day. Pray for the families who lost so many loved ones and then be so very thankful for the ones you have in your life. Realize that life is precious and it’s a privilege it’s not something owed to you. Spend each day loving the people around you that make you smile and always remember those who aren’t as lucky as you. Pray for them to have comfort, peace of mind and overall happiness.
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I cried again after reading your blog on 9/11. So much has happened to us in our lifetime: computers, the internet, the cell phone, facebook, and other technologies that help us stay connected. Yet there are still those that want to destroy innocent, hard-working, people. Hail to those of us that want to unite, support, connect, love. Thank you Anthony for a simple tribute with a powerful message.
All the best
Chris
Thanks for your 9/11 blog Anthony. We’re coming up on the 10-year anniversary soon, can you believe it?
Thanks for the 9/11 tribute. I had the honor to go 4 times to counsel police, fire, and EMS workers. The pains continue yet today. Your post was right on–pray for others and do not take this day for granted.
9/11 was tough on eveyone. I live on cape cod ma. where we have OTIS AIRFORCE BASE . all I remember that day is the jets flying over my head faster than usual ,1 after the other heading south/w.it wasn’t till we got a call at work that we new what was going on.II really feel for those that lost loved ones that day. I Sorry, I wish I could have helped.
Yes, I remember 9/11 also if it was yesterday. I work the
11 PM to 7 AM shift as a security officer here in the Washington, D. C. area. I had just gotten off Metro subway
and as I was passing pass this little “play park” (where gan-
nies kept working parents children) where journey each working day. This lady said, “a plane just went into the World Trade Building in New York”. This was about 9:55 AM. I didn’t think much of it because planes chrashes all the time. By the time I reached home (about 5-10 Mins.)
later and turned on the news and learned that a second
plane had “hit” the Pentagon, and a third had been stopped
in PA, I knew this was WAR. The President was in Florida.
When he was told about it, I really liked his “cool” res-ponce. I also liked the fact that we (America) did not panic!
HI Anthony,
I had just moved to Oak Island, North Carolina from New York, and I was watching the TODAY SHOW from NY and saw the whole thing. I was dumbfounded, broken hearted, sad, lonely, and barely able to carry on.
I just could not take my eyes from the TV set. I had a new Great Dane puppy, Miss Katie, who had joined my husband and I just one week before 9/11/01.
We now live back in New York , and we still have our big girl, Blue Great Dane Miss Katie. She sat with me and watched as the WTC smoldered, and she chewed on my arms and I was oblivious, because I just had to keep on watching. What a horror to know that terrorists had hit our beloved country.
We are both fine now, but the shock and horror is still in my heart and I am truly sad that we have to be at war. God Bless America!
Lets all stick together. Many prayers are still needed for our country and our President at this time. President Obama is now faced with another tremendous happening in the Gulf of Mexico. We really need prayers.
God Bless us All. Elizabeth~
Anthony,
I totally remenber that day and the feelings I had that day for those involved and their families. I remember I just wanted my kids by my side in case anything more were to happen. I know I, as many others, felt helpless and wished there was something we could have done, and Prayer is what I offered for all involved and for all who were or were not affected directly as well. We are very fortunate not to have to go through things like this in a daily basis, like others do in other parts of the world. My heart and Prayers go out to them as well. We have to focus on Love, Kindness, Happiness, The Golden Rule – Do Unto Others as You Would Have Others Do Unto You -All in Good Ways! and Pay if Forward!
God Bless and Best Wishes for All!
God Bless You Anthony for paying it forward!
Anthony, I am so glad to find this blog, I sent you an email before finding your story here. You and your brother are so young but more mature than
most people trying to find fault with you.
I am trying to find more stories about you and am happy to find them here.
Where on earth do you find the time all you do for yourself and other families.
God bless you and your family,
Gerda
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