FR 9/11 Remembrance Thread
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The first FR post:
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Posted on 09/10/2007 6:41:30 PM PDT by Milwaukee_Guy
Might be a good time to revisit how we all heard about the the attack on 9/11 and how we reacted to the darkest day in American history.
What emotions were strongest for you on that day?
How did you find out? Did you stay at work? Did you go Home? Who did you call?
I was on my way to the airport, when my ex called and said to turn on CNN. Ugly day. I just at her house watched the news all day. I didnt get back to Saint Louis until 5 days later. I had to drive..
I am not in the buisness of forgiveness. That’s the job of the Lord. Those pictures are terrible.
But I just couldnt help myself...the desire to at least keep tabs on the news snuck into my thoughts...Free Republic made a news junkie out of me way back in 1998, so 'old' habits had become hard to break. I thought - 'okay, I will turn it off when I get home, but for the rest of the drive, I will listen to the radio.
I turned the local conservative talk radio station on just in time to hear the chatter about how a plane had hit some tower in New York - which brought a myriad of different things to mind - like why the newscasters here in Houston would think I would find that unusual...hadnt that sort of thing just happened recently? And how that was just really unfortunate, wonder what kind of plane hit the tower...and the fact that WTC was connected to the two large columns in NY never quite got through my brain that morning. I just kept thinking it was some really bizarre accident that they felt the rest of the nation should know about. So I shrugged it off and decided Id hear more about it later.
But once again, I couldnt help myself. When I got home fifteen minutes after dropping my daughter off to school, I walked into the house and thought "well, I'll just see if they are talking about it on the television...maybe its just some fluke..."
and the first thing I saw when I turned Fox News on was one of the two towers BILLOWING with black smoke...OMG...I had had NO IDEA that's what they were talking about (hey, Ive never been to NYC...what did I know?)...and I found myself sitting on the couch watching in fascination as the reporters babbled nonsense about a Cesna. Im not real bright, but I could see that was no Cesna hole!!
And then a second silvery shape swooped into view and the second tower flashed in a fiery black ball.
I swear it was as if there was this sweeping nationwide...WAVE of realization...WE ALL KNEW at THAT moment...TERRORISM. Im old enough to remember all the highjackings in the 70s and how scary those were. This...THIS...was incomprehensible.
As another poster said, it just got worse from there. I sat STUNNED as I listened to the reporters talk about what was going on in the area...and then one reporter cut in to say they thought they saw a plan swooping through Washington DC, but they werent sure where it went...and the camera cut to the Capitol dome...and thats when the terror struck ME...They were attacking the Capitol! It was only minutes later that the report that a plane had struck the Pentagon that it was realized that there really had been a plane swooping through the area.
But the real sorrow hit when reporters announced that Barbara Olson had been on Flight 77...and how she had tried to get help through her cell phone.
I have to tell you by that time, I was near swooning, I was so stunned and upset. I was crying and crying the whole time. I could NOT COMPREHEND THE MAGNITUDE.
Then the towers fell. Horror. Just horror and disbelief. I was gripping the arm of the couch...hurry hurry hurry RUN YOU PEOPLE RUN!!!!
It all melded into one after that...I think I was starting to go numb, so by the time they started talking about Flight 93, I was sure I wasnt going to make it through the day.
I had to break away at one point, not because I couldnt take anymore, but because I realized that the time was getting near to go pick up my daughter again, so I got my keys and stepped outside. Richmond lies right under the flight path of several airlines that go into Hobby and Bush Intercontinental...so hearing the roar of planes is very much a part of the background. I noticed the silence almost immediately. It was so surreal! I had just spent the day watching so many people die and flee in terror, and here I was hopping into my car and driving down the road as though it were just another day.
The teachers at my daughter's school had informed all of the classes of what happened, but had not felt the need to call off school. Things proceeded as normal for them, but my daughter WAS a bit freaked out...even if she couldn't quite understand what had everyone upset. Her teacher had the foresight to keep it simple: that bad guys who hated America were trying to hurt us, which I didnt have much strength to argue with. I had never heard of Al Qaeda, and was still too stunned to wonder deeply about what kind of Middle Easterner would do such a thing...but there was no doubt in my mind: it was 70s terrorism revisited, only in much more viral form.
NEVER FORGET. NEVER SURRENDER.
Wild rumors of planes attacking the White House, the Capitol, the Pentagon and the Empire State Building were repeated. I knew it was real, but did not FEEL that it was real. So I stayed awake for most of the next several days, staring at the TV and the computer, feeling almost that I HAD to witness what was going on, because I had slept too late and thus catastrophe had happened! I HAD to keep watching to keep it from being repeated.
As the days went by I accepted what had been done to America, and got angry, then enraged, then filled with murderous hatred! As I posted on FR at the time: 'The time for talking is over, the time for killing has started'. I have waited and waited for the evildoers to be eliminated, but they still are with us. And now they are joined by the filthy vermin in this country who have joined their interests to those of the enemy. My wife has passed away, my family lives more than 1000 miles from me. I sit here alone, living with my hate.
Our society has become weak and depraved, people no longer have the desire or will to maintain their liberty, their nation, and their civilization. It is as if I lived in Hippo Regio ar rhe time of Saint Augustine. The city is surrounded by fanatic barbarians, who believe in God, and Honor Christ, but hate the Blessed Trinity. These evil heretics, whether called Arians or Islamicists, are striving to destroy us, and no reinforcements are coming.
And I HATE THEM!
The night of the 10th, I had not felt well, so I ended up staying up all night. Until 5:30 AM I sat reading my Bible.
I don’t remember what time it was, but the phone ringing woke me up. I was all groggy, when I heard my mother (calling from Arkansas) sounding terrified. “Aren’t you watching?” She said. “We’re under attack! They’ve attacked the two towers of the World Trade Center and just now the Pentagon!”
I remember sitting at the edge of my bed, just reeling. “This is it” I kept saying. What “it” meant to me at the time, was probably something like the precursor to Armageddon. I padded into the living room, where my little ones were watching Nick Jr. They had just awakened as well. I flipped on FOX and saw the two towers smoking and talk of the Pentagon on fire. I was still processing everything, when Mom asked, “Where does Todd work?” (my brother). I felt like someone had punched me. “Oh, Mom, no.” I murmured, “The Pentagon. Sometimes he works at the Pentagon.” She said she was calling his wife and hung up on me.
I tried to call her, too. For a long time. We couldn’t get through to her for a couple of hours. He was fine.
My neighbor came over—she was a stay-at-home mommy also. I was standing in my PJs, and we just hugged. We sat and watched the surreal images of the towers crumble, and the news reporters walking around the streets covered in ash. How the people looked like zombies. I was glued to the TV all day, as they talked about a 4th and 5th plane still out there. Of course, the 4th plane was United 93.
I knew that we would never be the same again, and I had the feeling that the planes being grounded as quickly as they were spared the country from even more attacks. I was certain of it.
Never forget. May God continue to hold His hand of protection over us.
It is something we have never seen. I hope my military will never forget., Reid, Schumer and Pelosi can pound sand.
I remember how strange it was for the whole month afterwards.
No planes in the sky. An eery quiet.
The world is a mean place for many. We stop it. Keep your chin up and hope we can handle this. :^)
Typically I do not watch the television nor is it on in my home. However, on this particular day my son stayed home from school and a young lady was at the house watching him. They had the TV on. It took me a minute to realize what was we were watching.
Later that day I had an interview at In Touch with the chaplain. Televisions were on all over the ministry. As I walked through the various departments people were gathered together weeping and praying.
I started working there shortly after 9-11 and realized the importance of making the most of every day.
Was dropping my son off at daycare. One of the daycare teachers told me a small plane hit the World Trade Center. Went to work and soon the news was spreading...I wanted to call all the people I ever knew in my life that meant something to me....really meant something to me. Made some calls. I couldn’t wait until the end of the day to pick up my 2 1/2 year old son and squeeze him tight. I remember Mommy crying for days and bravely trying to shield my son from the pain deep in my heart!
I have been deeply affected by 9-11!
Thousands of miles away in another country. Thailand also has a World Trade Center so when my mom said “A plane hit the WTC!”, the picture in my mind was a small, Cessna size plane acidentally crashing into the Thai WTC. We turned on the news and to my dismay saw live footage from NYC. The news kept repeating the casualty list from the last WTC attack (6 dead, 100s injured) and I thought it was the actual count. I kept mocking the terrorists for their ineffectiveness and how America was going to come down on them like a ton of bricks.
Then the Towers collapsed. That’s when I realized how serious this is.
At least I was right about the “ton of bricks” part.
Soon afterwards, I went online to seek further answers and understanding. I ended up here and got a valuable education about conservatism, our Founding Fathers, America, and the way the world and humanity works.
For opening my mind and eyes, I’ll be forever grateful to FR and Jim Robinson.
For bringing the fight to the terrorists and bringing those who did this to us and would gladly do it to millions of others around the world to justice, I’ll be forever grateful to the President and our military.
Thank you and God bless you Jim Robinson and Pres. George W. Bush.
We even installed a light because my mom was upset when we didn’t take it down at night. :)
I still have to get my Dad’s funeral flag up. It’s in a frame but it’s so tight (according to my nephew, it’s perfect and he hesitates wanting to make it fit the frame because he doesn’t want to mess with it). It’s too “puffy” for the frame.
Getting ready to leave for the National Championship Air Races in Reno.
Turned on the TV to get the weather. Got really pissed and hope we nail the sucker who planned it.
Air Races didn’t happen as the no fly ban was in effect for a week. pissed again!
Thanks XR7, the importance of FR is amplified right there with the threads.
I could write an entire book on my Deployment to Bosina Aug 2001 as a whole, and another book just about 11 September 2001...
It was around lunch time Bosnia time when the World Trade Center got hit.. I was the on duty patrol supervisor for Eagle Base, which is the main U.S. Controlled Base, in Tuzla, Multi-National Division North...
My first notice was from my dispatcher who told me to "get to a TV ASAP".. I went directly to the military police station and got to the TV just in time to see the 2nd Plane hit the Tower.. I knew immediately that it was NOT an "accident" we still had not received the "official" notification but I took the initiative to go to all the checkpoints and told everyone to go to 100% security until further notice….
From that moment on it was an OFFENSIVE war against terrorism GLOBALLY… before the end of the day we already had “targets” to go after and I was personally involved to one degree or another in “arresting” a number of terrorist operating in that region…..
I am thankful that I was in a place to fight, and I believe that the Lord placed me in that situation for a number of reasons….
From the moment the 2nd plane hit and continuing to this day.. I have been involved in missions that directly contribute to the war on terror…
I have had the privilege and honor of influencing some decisions that had to be made at some very high levels in the “chain of command” and have earned the respect of several high ranking officers (U.S. and Foreign) along the way.. I don’t say this to “boast” in any way.. I consider it an honor and privilege… it is rare that a non-commissioned officer (sergeant) gets the “freedom” to lead a team on a critical mission reporting directly to a General Officer…
I take great confidence in knowing that the Lord has placed me where He needed me to make a difference… and I give HIM all the honor, praise, and glory for it.. I do not consider what I do to be dangerous because no matter how big the enemy is, (my team + God) is ALWAYS bigger.. I don’t fight with stones and a sling shot like David did, but in the same manner I TRUST that the Lord will direct every bullet that comes out of my weapon in same manner that he directed the stone from David’s slingshot.
I could go on and on. But I will save the rest of this story for later… This update is being written from Baghdad, Iraq. I have been here since January, and I have the honor and priviledge of serving on a transition team, working directly with an Iraqi National Police unit... I will save the details of my mission for a later update, however along the way I like to produce short videos that communicate a little bit about what we are doing here. To access these videos you must have a YouTube account, and you must send me an e-mail telling me what your YouTube screen name is so that I can invite you to join the group. The direct link to the group of videos is
A few minutes before class was to end, at 10 am, our principal came on the PA system to announce the attacks on the WTC in New York. Thirty minutes later...to announce the attacks on the Pentagon.
The entire school basically disintegrated. Folks went to class, but nobody could teach or do work. We were all glued to the televisions, as CNN had been turned on. Some teachers shut off televisions and tried to teach, but it did not work very well.
Around 11 am, I called my parents in a panic, and my dad got out of work to come pick me up. On the way back home, down southbound I-395, the northbound lanes were completely blocked, barricaded with Jersey barriers and swarming with police and firefighters from different jurisdictions.
Rumors swirled around. Rumors about Fairfax County students who lost both parents on that day. Neighbors, friends, family who had died. One freshman at my high school lost his dad on Flight 77. A teacher's brother worked in the WTC. A woman from my church went to work at the Pentagon that day and never came home.
Six years later and I can't forget. I don't want to forget. Why? Because the images seared into my memory of ordinary folks jumping to their deaths from the WTC towers, the steel cross found at the WTC site, and the brave folks who fought back on Flight 93...remind me of what we are up against and why we must not be complacent.
We saw evil that day. But good shall ultimately triumph over evil.
Until then, we must fight for our very lives and our own freedoms.
It was early and I was working from home for a corporation at the time. My wife had the Today Show on, and I saw the footage of the first tower burning. Of course everyone was still thinking just by chance it might have been an accident. Then the second plane entered the shot and that thought was shot to hell.
I called my wife in and we watched the footage over and over.
I may have teared up a little, but my focus was knowing that we were going to war, and the events of this day and their rememberances, would have to sustain our citizens until what we had to do had been done. I knew that would be iffy. And today we see just how iffy it is.
Victims of 09/11, I remember. In your honor I promise again this year to never forget. I promise to remain faithful to the troops and the CIC until this task is completed.
MSM, you are public enemy number one, and we’ve got your number. We know what we must never forget, and you best know what you must never forget.
This is your nation too. We demand you keep it in mind and act like it. Democrats, likewise...
The citizens of this nation will hold you accountable. Now all you have to do is carry on, but remember that we are watching. We don’t expect you to adopt our beliefs, but we do expect you to adopt our nation. It may pain you to act like it, but this nation is your nation. If it doesn’t survive, many of you and many of us will not.
Now, act as if you understand that, even if you can’t.
Hi Anna. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thank you for your service. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
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