United Airlines Flight 175 flies low toward the South Tower of the World Trade Center, shortly before slamming into the structure. The north tower burns after an earlier attack by a hijacked airliner in New York City, on September 11, 2001. (Reuters/Sean Adair)
We are on day 177 of 15 days to slow the spread.
It was a crisp, clear September morning.
You can’t have lived through the day not remember in vivid detail where you were when you heard.
I was at the office, checking the news.
“A plane has hit the World Trade Center.”
Someone crazy has flown a twin engine into the tower
No.
“A second plane has hit the second. tower.”
This is an attack.
We watched as reports came in about the Pentagon. As reports came in about Flight 93 downed in Pennsylvania.
We watched in horror as the towers fell.
Helpless. Afraid.
Who did this? Did we stop them? Are the coming to our city next?
For a brief period in time we were all Americans. All singing “God Bless America.” All flying our flags.
We’ve changed. We don’t remember any more.
Oh sure, we know about the historical events.
But we don’t remember how we felt.
Horrible. Empty. Afraid.
Helpless.
What could we do?
We learned later of the heroes of the day.
Those who climbed the towers knowing they may not make it back down.
Those who rushed the pilot’s cabin so that a plane could not hit the intended target.
Those who rushed into the Pentagon to help with the injured and search for survivors.
None of us wants to live through anything like that again.
But, I miss the feeling of believing we were all in this together. That we were all united, caring for each other, looking out for each other.
That we were all Americans.
I still fly the flag. I still believe in this country.
I still go to church…when I’m allowed.
I wish we all did.
I’ve forgotten the feeling.
I haven’t forgotten what I believe.
I haven’t forgotten that there are people who hate us just because of who we are.
As my friend Shaun points out, they really do hate us: 9/11: How Quickly Did We Forget?
We filled the churches after 9/11. We gathered together, held hands, cried, prayed.
We can’t gather together right now, but we can pray.
Every day, more and more, I am beginning to understand that is all that we can do.
If we all understood that, it might be all that we need to do.
Remember today.
Reflect.
And then pray.