9/11 A Day of an Empty Sky
57I was the groundskeeper of a small shop here in Ohio. My Boss, Jim came out that morning as I was killing weeds and told me the the Twin Towers and the Pentagon were hit by airplanes. Needless to say...I was as stunned as the look on his face.
I just stood there as he walked back in the shop. There was a TV in the game room of another building...I immediately went to turn it on. The attack was on almost every channel. I stood and watched without emotion. I didn't feel anything...I felt emptied of reason and even reality.
I watched the planes hit the buildings and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I reached for emotions, grief, anger, love, hate......nothing was there to reach for.
I had to get back to my work but I checked back throughout the day and got bits of information about what was happening. As I was working outside....I looked up and noticed there were no jet streams anywhere. ...just a few clouds.
As I was looking up...I heard a distant thundering....I saw four military jets in a missing man formation coming from the south west (Wright Patterson Air Force Base). As they flew over....it sounded as if the sky were ripping apart. They headed east and were out of sight in a matter of seconds.
I don't know why...but at that moment....I felt better. I felt less empty.
After getting off work and going home....my family and myself became glued to the television. The stories began to unfold the truth and the truth began to unfold the horrors of terrorism. As I watched the replays of Policemen and Firemen go into the buildings.....courage and hope came to mind.
I began to feel again. As I watched the towers collapse....my heart collapsed with them. I knew there had to be hundreds or even thousands of Americans being killed. It was the same feeling as I watched the news of the Pentagon attack and the plane that went down in a Pennsylvania field.
The stories came of extremist Muslim terrorists who boarded the planes with box cutter knives. President Bush was telling Americans what we wanted and needed to hear.
The politicians mounted their podiums.....terrorist supporters danced in the streets....conspiracy theorists played their tunes of mistrust and the media embraced them all with exclusive attention. I ignored most of their babbling because the important stories to me were those of the victims and their families.....those who tried to help and lost their lives....they were all loved ones of Americans...they were Americans.
The courage of the public servants and others who gave their lives trying to help fellow Americans. The courage of the people who fought against the terrorists and crashed in the field. The victims of the attacks....who were fellow human beings....absolutely innocent.
I choose to remember and respect the courage of so many Americans when it comes to remembering 9/11. I choose to remember and respect their families. I choose to remember and respect those who lost their lives in the attacks. I choose to remember and respect the courage of our soldiers who have and continue to combat terrorism around the world.
An old soldier once told me,"I try to be a better American because the best Americans died so that I could be."
I never want to see another empty sky.
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I doubt there is a person anywhere (at least in this country) who doesn't remember where they were/what they were doing when this happened. I walked around my little town for over an hour.. in shock as well. Went into a coffee shop and a friend and her 3 year old daughter were there. She and I just sat there - numb really. Then it dawned on me, the little girl was bouncing and giggling! Totally unaware her life just changed. It occurred to me, too, that even in these situations it's ok to have joy, a smile, a kind word. People were kinder for a long time after this. I kind of miss that part of it - the thoughtfulness of strangers. Thank you Tom!
I will never forgot that tragic day, never. I was at the shore and as I looked towards New York I saw the smoke. Someone came up to me and told me that the Towers had collapsed. I nearly collapsed when I heard the news. Later my husband and I ended up at a tavern near our home. Everyone there was in stunned silence with the exception of two men seated at the end of the bar. There were clearly of Middle Eastern descent which is unusual in our neighborhood. In any case as they gazed at the television and saw the tragedy replayed, they were smiling. I could have strangled them at that moment, but of course I did nothing nor did anyone else. I am sick of hearing that Americans have to be more tolerant. We are the most tolerant people on earth. Let the Muslim world learn tolerance.
Tom,
You have read my hub so you know my connection with this day of infamy. At the end of that day was the first time in my life I ever felt hated just for being an American.
Great Hub!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, you have said here what is in most Americans hearts. There are a few who choose to believe that our own government is behind that terrible day. I refuse to believe that. I choose to believe in my heart of hearts that those in charge are here to protect us and all that this country represents to the world.
Thank you for a awesome Hub and for the reminder that none of us should need. As we as Americans should never, ever forget 9/11!!
Tom very well written, we from India were horrified by those scenes and I can imagine what an American must have gone through. God bless all those who lost their lives. may peace prevail!!
"President Bush was telling Americans what we wanted and needed to hear." I appreciate your position and your hub. Thanks!
I remember. I remember shock, fear and lots of tears. I remember going to the office and then coming home because I couldn't think. I remember the surreal feeling I had for days after almost like walking in a cloud, maybe waiting to wake up. But it wasn't a dream.
Powerful hub; excellent expression of a lot of American's thoughts. Nine years ago and it is still hard to wrap your mind around. Emotionally evocative picture. Bless the souls of all who perished and guard their families forever. May we learn from history and it never repeat itself.
A story straight from your heart, Tom. Well-written and full of emotion. One of the best 9/11 rememberances that I have read, if not the best! WB
Thank you for writing this hub. What a great quote full of meaning...better Americans indeed. Thought provoking...do we even know what it means to be an American anymore?
I am not an American but I remember that day. I had been at a home group with friends that morning (UK morning) all excited because in two days time we were flying to America on holiday. As I left my friend’s house her next-door neighbour spoke to us over the fence. She told us that a plane had crashed into a building in New York and that the news was full of video showing what had happened. At this point it was not really clear what had happened.
Of course we did not get to America that year as all flights to the USA were cancelled. The disbelief and horror imprinted this day into many people’s memories this side of the pond. The photographs of the fire-fighters and policemen helping to rescue those who were caught up in the carnage of this day was so moving. They were truly heroes some of whom paid the ultimate price by sacrificing themselves in their efforts to save others.
An excellent Hub
Hi Tom,
New to your hubs, I like, I will be following.
Yes 9/11 I saw it on Tv here on the dark side of the world and was stunned to say the least. Just a few aircraft and the world changed and is still changing due to those few seconds.
Have a great day,
Regards,
Cliff (killrats)
On that day, I believe everyone who was a true blooded American and cared, went into shock as it was hard to believe that such devastation could be brought upon not only NY and our nation, but so many of our beloved people. I still cry thinking about it!! It was a sad, emotional day for thousands. I will never forget the sacrifices made to protect our nation...in the past to the present. Love this tribute of 9/11 Tom. :) Well done!
Well said. Well spoken. 9/11 did change our lives. I met a man the other day who, after our brief exchange of greetings, told me he had made an observation that morning. "People", he said in a matter of fact fashion, "have turned just plain mean." I nodded in agreement. He went on, "Christians are not even behaving like Christians!" Again, I nodded. He wanted to know how I felt. I explained to him that though, yes, people are behaving in a mean manner, I felt there is a reason. I saw it over and over again, working in the medical field. (I was a dust-off medic in Vietnam and continued in the medical field after I retired from the Army.) This nation, who had come under physical attack fewer times than can be counted on one hand, is suffering from PTSD. Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder. Whether or not this is true, I don't know. I have no "studies" to base this observation on because it is just that...MY personal observation. At least I hope that's all it is...PTSD. 9/11 has changed our lives...forever.
Hmrjmr1 Level 3 Commenter 20 months ago
Well said Tom, God Bless!