Remembering 9/11

It's amazing to think that it's been 10 years since 9/11. Just the numbers sends shivers down my spine and takes me right back to where I was on 9/11/2001.

I was a sophomore in college at UNH, I was living in a single in Stoke Hall, one of the larger/taller dorms on campus. I was getting ready for my economics class, when I got an IM (when was the last time I logged in to AIM!) from one of my friends, simply stating, turn on the news... and when I turned on the news and saw what was happening, I thought at first that it was a hoax, or that the news people had the story wrong, but then I watched as the second plane flew into the tower. And I just collapsed on my bed. I can't believe that history was happening on live tv, right in front of my very eyes.

Side note, it made me think of what it would have been like to watch the Challenger disaster. Christa McAuliffe was a teacher from New Hampshire and many schools in the state were watching the shuttle launch live in their classrooms. I could only imagine what that was like.

My friend, Liane knocked on my door, her and I were in the same economics class, and she was coming to get me so we could walk together. I was just sitting on my bed, she said "let's go to class" I said "I really don't want to" she said, "You can't do anything about it right now". So we went to class, only to find out class had been cancelled due to what was happening. I rushed back to my dorm and stayed glued to my tv for the better part of the day.

At one point they were discussing evacuating some of the dorms, like Stoke, that were tall and housed many students. But once all the planes had been accounted for, that stress alleviated.

My first thoughts were to the public servants, the firefighters, EMTs, police officers, etc. who would be rushing to the scene to help those affected. And I prayed for their safety.

That night there was a candlelight vigil to pray for those that had died and praying that survivors would be found.

In the coming days, we learned that there was a UNH connection involved, a professor was on one of the planes, there were several alumni working in towers, or on the planes, several people from the seacoast of New Hampshire were killed all as a result of this terrorist act. Innocent people, who had nothing to do with anything that these terrorists were "fighting" for. What cowards would kill innocent people. It seems as though every aspect of my life was touched by 9/11.

In the days, months and years following, 9/11 always remains on my mind. Especially now with my profession as an emergency dispatcher. My father retired as a captain 6 years ago, so I've always been a member of the fire department family. Thinking about the children who have been orphaned because of this tragedy sickens me. I never would want that life for anyone.

It's nice to see that the families are finding their own ways to memorialize their loved ones. Awareness is still needed, as many of the volunteers and workers who were working at the recovery site are now getting sick from breathing in the toxic air. 

What amazes me is that there are children who are now 10 years old who don't even know what happened or why the world is the way that it is now.

As every year, the fire department I work on, we will hold a memorial event to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. It is still the greatest single event LODD (line of duty death) on record. A record that I hope is NEVER broken.
 
Do you remember where you were when 9/11 happened?

Never Forget

I am a firefighter's daughter and now I work side by side with them, doesn't matter, day or night, night or day, they are and will always be firefighters. They are the one's running into the burning building when everyone else is running out. They put their lives on the line to save a life.

Firefighter's Prayer

When I'm called to duty God

wherever flames may rage

give me strength to save a life

whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child

before it is too late

or save an older person from

the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert

to hear the weakest shout

and quickly and efficiently

to put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and

to give the best in me

to guard my neighbor and

protect his property

And if according to your will

I have to lose my life

bless with your protecting hand

my children and my wife.

I remember 9/11/01, I was just waking up and getting ready for my day. I was in my sophomore year at UNH, living in Stoke Hall. My friend IM'ed me and said, turn on the news, so I did, and I saw the horror that was the morning's events. I thought it was a hoax at first, that no way could this be happening. And then on live tv, I watched the second plane crash into the tower. I sat down on my bed, and started to cry, I knew it wasn't going to be a good day.

Another friend came to my room to walk to class, we had a 9:40 economics class, I said, I can't go, I want to stay and watch for news. She said, there's nothing you can do here, you might as well go to class. So we went, and class was promptly cancelled due to the events.

I came back to my dorm room and was glued to the set, I watched the events unfold on tv. I couldn't imagine the horror that was unfolding right before my eyes. The most horrific part for me was to see people jumping, with nothing below, I couldn't imagine what goes through your mind that says, I have no way out.

There were rumors going around that Stoke Hall was to be evacuated since at the time, it was one of the largest/tallest dorms on campus and there was a concern with a number of flights still in the air.

That night there was an impromptu vigil for the victims and the first responders, I was awestruck at the outpouring of support in America's time of need.

President Bush addressed the nation, among his words: "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts," "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," and "The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts...we will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them."

After 9/11 my father went to New York for as many services as he could. He quickly became friendly with some of the guys on Staten Island, and still to this day is friends with them.


So today, as we remember the "Pearl Harbor of the 21st century" let us not forget. As well as keep in our hearts the service men and women who continue to this day to fight for our freedom and for justice.