Everyone is remembering the victims and the events of September 11, 2001 today, and this morning on Twitter a lot of people (myself included) were tweeting about where we were on that day.
I was a sophomore at Louisiana Tech University and it was one of the first days of classes. I went to work in the Admissions Office and that’s where I heard about the first tower being hit. We turned on the TV just in time to see the second tower get hit. I’ll never forget the images and the emotions I felt. I went to a city-wide church service that night and we sang, held hands, and prayed. For the victims, for the heroes, and for our Country. Our beautiful, brave, country.
When we sang the third and fourth verses of America, The Beautiful I remember not being able to control my emotions. I don’t think I had ever really heard these lyrics before. I had sung them my whole life and in that moment they truly meant something to me. Still, to this day, I can’t sing these lyrics without fighting back the tears and thinking about that day nine years ago and those that are still fighting for us.
Lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
I’ve gone all morning without, crying… then I read this.
I was 16 when it happened, and I just felt this overwhelming loss of safety, like we weren’t safe anymore. The war in Iraq/Afghanistan began on my 18th birthday. I’m now 25 and I still don’t feel that safety. I was always proud of those heroes, but even they had fallen. So many people had fallen because of this day and the repercussions of this day. I am grateful to God that it has not happened again.
The memories I have, both in DC since we lived in the suburbs, and the outskirts of New York where I am from. We had a friend in the Pentagon who survived the attack. He knew immediately it wasn’t a bomb because he smelled the oil. My son in law was on his way to a meeting in the Pentagon when he saw the plane flying low overhead. A week or so later, my uncle died in New Jersey. I’ll never forget the sight at the cemetery, our procession had to wait in line, there were so many other funerals that day from 9/11……
This was a beautiful tribute, Erin!!!!!
I am actually a teacher in the suburbs of NYC. I was in my first year of teaching and the mood of the staff was somber. We were all trying to be strong for each other and our students. Many children got picked up early mostly because parents wanted their children close. I could not wait to get home to my family and it really hit me hard as I got into my car that afternoon, with every radio station giving a news report of the situation. It was the first time that I had been able to truly hear about it first hand (all other information was via my principal). My fiance (now husband) fought in Iraq from 2003-2004. As a NYer, the effects of 9.11 are everlasting…
Beautiful post! I was a Freshman in college at Central Michigan University and I remember thinking what the heck is going on? I felt so far from my family and I just wanted to be with them and hug them and tell them I love them.
We must never forget what happened that horrible day in 2001.
I lost a friend that day 9 years ago, so I think I take it personally when I see how many people have forgotten.
I remember getting up that morning and turning on the news like I did every morning. The confusion about what was happening. The growing horror and fear as we learned the details. The terrible sadness. I remember Congress singing “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol.
Remembering honors those whose lives were taken and those who have since given their lives so that we will never see another day like that.
I remember.
I was a senior in high school, and was in our first hour class. We didn’t do much during that class, except play on computers, and when we opened the yahoo pages we saw the news feed. Our teacher then went and told the principal and after the second tower was hit, he made the announcement. It was a very scary time, even way down in Louisiana. No one knew what was going to happen next. But God did, and still does. God allows everything to happen for a reason. He isn’t the one that gives someone a disease, or blows people up, but He allows it to happen. Everything that He allows to happen is to prepare for the coming of His Son, and our Savior! And it won’t be long until that day comes. Everything is lining up with what scripture says! Praise God for His wonderful power to save us even when we live in an evil world!!
What a sweet post!
I can’t believe 9/11/01 was 9-years ago. I’ll never forget where I was, when I heard the news. I was a senior in college, and was getting ready for class. I remember watching the Today Show, and calling my mother. I was frantically trying to find out where my father was. He had flown out of NY earlier that morning. The Company he works for (where I work now) had offices in the World Trade Center and he was in meetings at the Trade Center the previous day. I thank God that he wasn’t in the WTC on 09/11/01. My heart breaks for all those people who were lost on 09/11/01. It does make me smile though to think how proud I am of our country and how happy I am to live in a place that is free.
On a happier note–hope you and your family had a nice weekend =) Is it getting cooler yet down South?