Where Were You When it Happened?
There are a lot of stand-out days in my life that I will always remember either for the happiness, the thrill, the satisfaction of a job well-done . . . Even as I recall such personal events, however, I don’t think I remember them in as clear detail as I do the day I saw that plane deliberately crash in the first of the two towers in New York. It took a few seconds to realize that someone had purposely crashed a plane into the building, there were people in the building beginning their day, and the place would soon be swarmed by rescue factions to save everyone.
Sad to say, a great many of the people already in the tower at that moment began and ended their day within minutes while more fortunate ones managed to escape down the stairs into the smokey billows already filling the air outside. Firemen and other rescue crews bravely went against the exiting confusion of people in order to save anyone who couldn’t make it out on their own. Many of those brave men ended their early shift for that day forever when the building crashed down.
I remember seeing the television reporters running to their desks on the news stations, hurriedly dressed and unkept probably wondering on WHAT the news was that needed to be reported. Eventually, the last of the warring planes had crashed and the world was left in shock and sorrow. Some stories were heard of people who were miraculously saved from death because they were late, a flat tire, sudden illness, etc. Way too many hugged their wives, husbands, and children goodbye for the last time.
Even all these years later, it is difficult to watch the news reports from that day as one always has a wistful thought in the back of their mind about ‘maybe the ending will be different THIS time’ . . . but it never is and tears are often just as poignat and sorrowful as the first time we witnessed this news.
September 11, 2012 . . .
Benghazi, Liba
Date: September 12, 2012
United States diplomatic post and CIA annex were attacked by a coordinated attack, rioting, armed assault, and arson, resulting in fourteen fatalities which included US Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
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Where Were You?
On September 11, 2001, our country was attacked by the Islamic terrorist group called al-Qaeda. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing that day?
I am an early riser so was up and checking my e-mail that morning before heading to morning Mass. There were a lot of garbled messages from people saying there was something happening, some planes crashed into each other, buildings seemed to have been hit . . . Naturally, I turned on the television and saw news reporters coming into work and skipping the makeup and usual prep to report on something no one was yet sure about.
I woke my children to get ready for the day making frequent passes by the television for news. I saw the twin towers collapse, views of people running from their lives. Later on, coverage of the planes deliberately flying into the buildings. Then the courageous passengers that prevented a plane from reaching the White House sacrificing their lives to save even more on the ground. All flights to anywhere were grounded that day as the disaster was sifted through to discover what happened and why. The four plane attacks, using our airlines, killed 2,996 people, injured more than 6,000 others, and cost millions in damage. There were many deaths later from cancer and respiratory diseases related to the 9/ll tragedy.
At morning Mass, our pastor asked us to pray for some plane crashes the cause of which he wasn’t certain as he had come to church early and hadn’t heard the total news. A friend went back to the sacristy, after Mass, and told Father. He said Father just blanched and knowing the pastor, a multitude of Rosaries and prayers were offered by him that day.
A friend and I were talking about it after Mass while our children played on the school grounds. You don’t realize how much noise planes make constantly in the air until every plane in the country is grounded. There was an extra peace and sad quiet. We thought we were in control but when one of the children suddenly pointed to the sky, our nerves jumped. It was only a bird sighted by an delighted child. For children, the world hadn’t changed too much for them.
Where Were You On September 11th 2001?
An Obama Legacy . . .
Noted this on Rush Limbaugh’s page:
“Despite the best efforts of who knows how many people, the inexplicable has happened. On the day before the 14th anniversary of 9/11, the United States Senate sustained the Iranian Nuclear Deal freeing Barack Hussein Obama to lift sanctions on the Iranian regime, which will for the most part immediately provide them with between $100 billion and $150 billion.”
God help the world especially Israel.
Interesting to note that both North Korea and Iran got a foot up in nuclear capability from US presidents – Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
Anniversary of 9/11 – We Should Never Forget!
Lord of Mercy, Prince of Peace,
This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory.
This day does not pass in the calendar without our remembering.
We remember images of death and destruction. Images that human eyes were never meant to see. We remember words our ears were never meant to hear, the tender last words of husbands and wives who would never embrace again.
We imagine the feeling of emptiness in the arms of children who at the end of the day could not find mom or dad for their welcome home hug. We remember our own feelings of emptiness as our sense of security, as our own confidence in the predictable order of life and work was radically shaken.
This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory.
We remember the heroism of the many that lost their lives in saving others. We remember all those who suffered and died, we grieve for them still, friends and strangers alike, along with their families and friends.
This date, 9-11, carries a heavy burden of memory.
And it is right that it should not pass from our memory. But today and in this prayer, along with our remembrance of profound loss, it also seems right that we give voice to our deep longing for peace, and with this prayer, commit ourselves to those actions that will draw us closer to our most ancient and most holy desire, peace among all God’s children.
Dona nobis pacem.
Lord, grant us peace. Amen.
Never Forget . . .
Where were you on 9/11? I imagine that anyone of age on that day can remember exactly where they were, what they were doing, and the horrible feeling when the news showed the towers coming down.
I was just finishing some e-mail before heading off to Mass. There were some postings about a bad air plane crash but no details. I turned on the news in time to see a plane crash into one of the towers. At that point, it was still felt to be a really bad plane incident as it was an American flight and what else could it be but a horrible accident. By the time we headed out the door to church, it was pretty well figured out that we had been attacked but the why, what, who wasn’t mentioned yet.
At Mass, Father, who had been praying the Rosary before Mass, didn’t know what had happened. During his sermon, he mentioned we should pray for some bad plane crash or something that had happened in New York. He probably wondered about all the heads shaking a negative no to that that version of the news.
After Mass, one of our friends went back and told Father. He said Father’s face went into total shock and he couldn’t say a word for a moment. I remember how very quiet it was outside the church. All flights had been grounded. Since we live near an airport, the absence of the flight noises we never noticed was suddenly loud. The day was sunny and warm, the sky was an exceptionally pretty blue yet the anxieties and fears would soon turn into confirmations for so many families and friends by evening.
We got home and went back to the television in time to see the first tower fall. All day news kept coming in with either factual news or suppositions based on all the information flying around. At the end of the day, 2,977 people were dead and over 6,000 were injured.
Memorial Prayers for 9/11 First Responders
God of the selfless,
God of the strong and the brave,
Grant a perfect rest among the souls of the righteous
To those who died in service to others because of
The 9/11 attacks on the Unites States.
May their dedication to protecting life serve as a shining lamp of love
And the works of their hands bring us all merit in heaven.
Bless the souls of all who have died to save others,
Civilians and professionals,
The trained and the untrained,
In every age and in every land,
Men and women who answered the call of honor, duty and service.
May their memories be sanctified with joy and love.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life,
A living blessing in our midst.
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