As a child I remember asking my mother where she was when Elvis died, when she watched the moon landing, and where she heard about President Kennedy's assassination. I can only imagine the day when my nieces and nephews or even my own children ask me, "Where were you on September 11, 2001?"
That day will be forever burned in my mind, and I will be able to reply.
I was in school, Ms. Romero's class to be exact, Sophomore English, with the same classmates I'd had since preschool. I remember which seat I was sitting in.... I was directly in front of the radio. An announcement came over the speakers that if your classroom had a television or a radio, to turn it on. At first we were confused, next we were in shock, stunned and silenced by a grief so sudden and unexpected.
After hearing the announcements that the towers had been hit, followed by the development of the towers falling, I had never felt so far and so close to something in my whole life. I knew that from my classroom in rural northeast Oklahoma, there was nothing I could physically do to help anyone, but I knew they desperately needed everything I could give. So I gave them everything I could, I gave them my God. I asked for his protection and care for those still living, and his strength and comfort to the families of those who had died.
As more news came in about United Flight 93, the Pentagon, and the status of the Trade Centers, we didn't change classes for the rest of the morning, we huddled around each other in the classroom, hugging, crying, praying, and being grateful for the people that we loved.
I remember with just as much clarity the surge of patriotism that followed these horrific events. I remember that at that point our differences didn't seem to matter as much as the one thing that brought us all together, we were Americans.
I think it is our duty as survivors and fellow Americans, that we never forget. Never forget the sacrifices that were made and our made daily by our military. Never forget the promises made and the trust place in the hands of elected officials. Never forget that we were founded on the promises of life and liberty but equally rooted in faith.
Our fingerprints never fade from the lives we touch....
I was sleeping after working all night as a security officer, when I woke up it was all over the television.
ReplyDeleteComment received via Facebook: Darina Lamp Shapley - For the past 12 years I've struggle with what I should say about this tragic day in our history! On that day I was in the Air Force sitting at my desk on Bolling Air Force Base in Washington D.C. just across the Potomac River from the Pentagon. The base was immediately thrown into threat condition delta (the highest threatcon) & we went into immediate 12 hour shifts & lockdown. The day was ironically so beautiful. Blue skies, crisp & cool. About an hour after the Pentagon took a direct hit from American Airlines flight 77 everyone in my office heard a loud boom & the 10 foot glass windows in the front of our building shook. That was the first day in my then 12 year military career that I was scared for my life but all of my training kicked in as I dove under my desk. My troops did the exact same thing as we began to yell at the two civilians that we worked with to get down. We found out later that a huge propane tank nearby had exploded & had nothing to do with the attacks at the Pentagon. I had called my daughter's stepmother to ask her to pickup my daughter from school since I wasn't going to be home anytime soon. She ended up picking her up early because she was afraid that Kayla would think the worse & wanted to reassure her that I was fine. Later that night after 9pm I had never seen the interstate that is usually packed with cars so desolate. It was eery! I stopped by a good friend's condo as she worked for DEA in a highrise building within view of the Pentagon. Seeing her is when I broke down & started crying. I think I finally succumbed to my fear & exhaustion. I was so tired but knew I would never be able to sleep even though I had to be right back at work the next morning at 7am. I stayed with my friend for a long time watching everything transpire on the news. The next morning it took over 2 hours to get into the base because of all the heightened security. I was late to work of course. Twenty months later I was on a C130 transport flying into Iraq on my first deployment to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nothing has been the same since.
ReplyDeleteTo this I can say, I am in tears. Darina, I knew of your service and your military background, but never can say I am more proud and grateful for it. Thank you. Very thankful that I can call you a friend right now!!!
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