September 11th

[NJHalo]

The annual 9/11 thread.

 

God bless all those who were lost that day.

 

Guilty of nothing but showing up on time for their jobs that day

[Jay]

Seeing the coverage on TV, it's good that we're reminded of just how shocking and horrific that day was.

[Spirit]

It's so hard to remember what it was like to live in a pre-9/11 world.  How innocent we were.  How free we were.

 

I remember the radio alarm clock going off in our room and the DJ saying, "a 2nd plane has just hit the other twin tower."  My wife and opened our eyes wide, looked at each other in shock and turned on the tv.  She was two months pregnant with our first child.  I sat there watching the images on tv and thinking, "what kind of a world am I bringing this kid into?"

 

Prayers for the families and friends of the fallen. 

[Jason]

Watching the images and videos that have been shown today seem to be more difficult to watch now than it was when it was happening. That day was rather surreal at the time and seemed to take a while for what was happening to set in. Thankfully this day will never be forgotten and should be a reminder to all of us to be thankful for what we have. It should be a national holiday at some point.

[LBHalos17]

It is Patriot Day.

 

I remember my wife (now ex-wife) rushing into the bedroom to wake me up, telling me that we were being attacked, and that the towers had collapsed.  I turned on the tv, and saw replays of the towers on fire and was actually angry at her for lying to me for a minute!  Of course, a short time later I saw the towers fall.  I had been standing, and felt like I'd been gut-punched when I saw it.  I basically fell back onto the bed, as my head was spinning.  I have a few friends and relatives in NY/New Jersey, so I was concerned about them (everybody was fine, including those who worked in Manhattan), along with what I thought was going to be loss of life into 10,000 people.  

 

Watching it continue to unfold, I realized the towers didn't immediately fall.  That's when I knew that the number of civilian-casualties would not be as high, but the numbers for First-Responders would dramatically increase.  I think those numbers are 343 Firefighters and 72 Police Officers who rushed into danger.

 

My father and I flew back to NYC a month later to re-connect with our friends and family, but primarily out of a "need" to be there.  I wanted to show support and help in any way I could.  It was the National Memorial weekend and there was not much work being done, other than the constant hosing-down of the still-burning Pile.

 

We arranged going to a Precinct downtown, and were escorted to Ground Zero by a Sergeant and two other Officers.  One of the Officers was very quiet, and had the "1,000-yard stare."  His partner told us that this Officer had been one of the first responders, and went into the North tower to assist with evacuations.  They were a few floors up, when the South tower collapsed.  He was able to help people escape the North tower through a hole in the building, climbing down over about three stories worth of rubble.  I was floored to hear this story; my father and I both looked at him and hugged him as if he was some kind of Guardian Angel.  He, of course, is embarrassed to be called a hero.

 

We also attended a Funeral for Det. James Leahy.  I went in full, Class-A Uniform and was welcomed to stand with his fellow NYPD Officers for the procession.  It was an amazing experience and I'm glad we were able to travel back to witness the true devastation.

 

I do a lot of reflecting every year.  I'll re-read books and magazines, and watch some documentaries and movies related to 9/11.  Mostly, I'll give thanks and say a prayer for all of those who were murdered.  At the Towers, the Pentagon, and those on Flight 93.  I will go to work, and try to live-up to their standard.

[jshep]

The Los Angeles Lakers want to remind you to #NeverForget

 

 

With a photo of Kobe Bryant for some reason.

[Glen]

I think they're memorializing his afro.  

[NJHalo]

I just got back to my NJ office from my Manhatten office. This is the first Sept 11th that I had to work in NYC since that day.
Felt very weird all day, and I have to say I felt relieved after I drove over the George Washington Bridge into NJ

Edited September 12, 2013 by NJHalo

[Tank]

[Tank]

put together a power point to show my 8th graders this morning. added a couple of photos of the two Kings employees who died that day, including the patch worn by the players that year and the very simple photo of the stanley cup championship hat placed by their names on the memorial. got a lot more choked up than i wanted to.

[gotbeer]

On this day, I am reminded that heroes don't play baseball, football, basketball, or any other sports.  They are people that put their safety aside and help others.  

 

God bless the first responders, and the passenger and crew of United 93, and everybody we lost that day.  

[Tank]

back in 2003 our men's chorus was invited by james dobson to sing at the focus on the family headquarters in colorado springs. it was a friday morning and was their worship service for the employees. besides us, the special guest that morning was lisa beamer, whose husband todd was on flight 93. he was the one who always said "let's roll!" she told her story and it was mesmerizing. that was one of the more bittersweet days i've been able to experience as a singer, and it was all worth it. she did a book signing afterwards and we got to say hello to her. she was a very strong lady, impressive, courageous woman. i hope she and her kids are doing well.

[NJHalo]

Thought I would share this pic from my town's 9/11 memorial.

 

[fan_since79]

A friend of mine's sister was in New York on business and was staying with a friend in Queens. Someone smashed into her parked rental car at 4 AM that morning and she called in late to her meeting on one of the higher floors in the WTC. Missed it entirely. The driver who wrecked her car was never found.

Edited September 12, 2013 by fan_since79

[Vegas Halo Fan]

I was working night shift in a prison medical department. Incoming day shift personnel brought the first news we heard. One person told me that a plane had hit a tower of the World Trade Center, another told me the Pentagon. I couldn't figure out how they could get the two confused. Then I got home and watched the news, for about four hours. It was surreal. A friend in England tried to convey his condolences, but both of us were at a loss for words.

 

The closest thing I could equate it to was the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I heard the bomb go off, and less than an hour later I was on duty at an area hospital. Four months out of nursing school, I was thrown into that. On 9/11 I wondered what my colleagues in New York City were going through.

Edited September 14, 2013 by Vegas Halo Fan

[LBHalos17]

back in 2003 our men's chorus was invited by james dobson to sing at the focus on the family headquarters in colorado springs. it was a friday morning and was their worship service for the employees. besides us, the special guest that morning was lisa beamer, whose husband todd was on flight 93. he was the one who always said "let's roll!" she told her story and it was mesmerizing. that was one of the more bittersweet days i've been able to experience as a singer, and it was all worth it. she did a book signing afterwards and we got to say hello to her. she was a very strong lady, impressive, courageous woman. i hope she and her kids are doing well.

I would highly recommend reading her book "let's Roll"  It's about their life, spirituality, and how Todd was formed into the hero he became.