September 11th anniversary, what does it mean to you?

[cm8]

The world as we know it, will never be the same. Domestic and foreign terrorism sucks and we lost our "freedom" that day

 

[kelmac284]

To me I feel like a piece of some innocence died that day and our world forever changed. I am also saddend for my children that the world they are growing up in is a world filled with this kind of hate and terror. It is truly terrifying that something like this can and did happen!

For me I was at home sound asleep and I had a 5 month old and almost 2 year old and was awoken by my husband who called me and told me to turn on the tv and then I watched in disbelief and horror as the 2nd plane hit and then throughout the rest of the day and the coming weeks as it unfolded and then I came to the realization that my husband who was an army reservist would probably be going to war. So it had a twofold impact to me. Not only was I saddend and sickend by what had happened to the poor people that day and to our country but also terrified about how it was going to impact me personally and it DID 2 years later when in Dec of 03 my husband left to serve in Iraq for 15 months. That was a really hard time for me and although I was extremely proud of my husband for serving I was scared to death the entire time he was over there.

A lot of things changed that day and will forever be changed and I will NEVER forget. We went to NYC last year and to see Ground Zero is really awe inspiring. To see the little church next to it that withstood the blast is simply amazing! I hope that people NEVER become complacent and never forget this terrible tragedy! I have lived through Regan getting shot and John Lennon, the Challenger and Columbia explosions, Oklahoma City and Waco but nothing has compared to this and it has forever changed me.

My thoughts and prayers to the families of those who lost loved ones that day!!

 

[kc10family]

I was living and working on an Air Force base then. I had no clue when I went to work what was going on but as I pulled into the parking lot we were being turned away from the parking slots near the building. I was pregnant and was given a special parking slot so I didn’t have to walk far…. But not that morning. When I got to the building a coworker I had known for years said we have to check every ID so I need to see yours.
I got upstairs and everyone was in the rec room watching the tv. I worked in a building that had many reservist pilots who flew commercials planes. We made a list of all those who flew with what airlines, who was out with the military, we tried to list where everyone could possibly be. Then we waited for them all to call in. It was a very very long wait. We were blessed to have everyone call in by just after lunch that day.
All aircraft were grounded, very strange sound or lack of sound on and Air Force base. Next came the tanks and big big guns facing out the gate of the base and many long days at work for myself and DH as the military started making the plans they did.
It was a day of tears, anger and so many other feelings. It was a day I teach my children about and a day I WILL NEVER FORGET.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I agree, a lot of people seem to have faded memories...

As is right and just. The wound won't heal if you keep picking at the scab.

The Revolutionary war happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. Pearl Harbor happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. The atomic bomb happened (twice), yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. JFK, MLK and RFK were assassinated in cold blood, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on.

To continually mourn the loss of a family member nine years after their death, making yourself feel that loss as keenly as you did on the day they died and trying to make others feel that loss as keenly as you want to, well that's seen as unhealthy in most societal circles. Yet continually morning 9/11 somehow seems healthy?

I can remember 9/11 and it reminds me that there's really nothing we can do to prevent anyone from attacking us again. The US isn't going to change how they treat other countries and Americans continue to be arrogant and abusive to other cultures and peoples. I've accepted this fact as something I can't change by myself. I've internalized it, forgiven it and now I live my life looking forward to the future instead of constantly reopening the wounds of the past. The documentaries on what happened in New York and Washington are interesting, but the event has become history to me now.

I expect the fresher grievances that I feel most keenly from the Michigan Depression of the 2000's will become history to me in as we move into 2011, 2012 and ever after. I try not to expect those who didn't have to live the Michigan Depression to not grieve for us years and years into the future, and I hope those who had to live the 9/11 events will not expect us who weren't physically there to continue to grieve years and years into the future for them.

 

[LBAK]

That day was the end of my children's innocence. We lost a family member, a neighbor and my oldest had 7 friends lose their parents. One girl lost a parent in each tower. Not a day goes by where my kids aren't reminded of the tragedy that happened 9 years ago.
We have become a stronger more compassionate community on which the future is being built and I am so proud my daughters are part of that. I will never forget that day.

 

[tazdev3225]

I still remember hearing the news that something had happened. I had just finished my morning shift on my corner, I was a Crossing Guard, and had stopped to get gas in my car. I had the radio on and there was a news break in. I raced home to see the second crash on TV. Then called my mom. My youngest brother was going to Columbia at the time. The the news of the Pentagon came on. One of my other brothers is an officer in the army reserves and sometimes has to got into DC. It was a long day as my mom tried to reach both of my brothers. Thankfully both were safe. I could only imagine the pain and fear people directly involved were feeling.

One month later I went to WDW with my aunt. My kids were terrified. I was more scared at the airport in Orlando seeing the National Guard patrolling the airport with assault rifles. I left a bag with my aunt to get a drink and was stopped and questioned and then pulled aside before I could board our plane. I understood the reasoning even though my bag was not unattended. Then I got really angry that my country had become one gripped by fear. I was not going to give into the fear because that was what was wanted more than anything by the terrorists.

I took a moment today to remember the lives lost.

 

[ChrisFL]

It reminds me of a few things...

First, that sometimes despite our best efforts as individuals, people can still "hate" a country, or a culture, and that hatred can spread both ways, as that "pastor" in Gainesville has taught us.

We've come a long way in the past century with western cultural understanding, we've seen the fall of the Nazi empire, the fall of communism in Russia, the fall of the berlin wall and a great union in Europe after sworn enemies only half a century before became united.

Now we have another opportunity for learning and understanding between cultures, this time it's going to require a lot of work, it means giving aid when there's problems and making sure that Americans are seen as friends and not enemies. It also requires a change in education of the youngest minds in those places that are easily manipulated by the same extremist groups. Without that, any effort militarily will not sustain a lasting peace.

 

[Princess Nancy]

I'll remember it as the day my life changed forever.

DF

Thank you!

I cannot find the words to properly express my gratitude to you and the other brave Men and Women who serve our country.

 

[fraggle551]

It reminds me of the terror I felt when I thought I had lost my Daddy. And it reminds me of the fear I live with every day knowing that the lung disease he has from spending many months there recovering his brothers will someday get much much worse.

It means that I am so thankful of the heros we have with us, and those who lost their lives fighting for us.

 

[BabyTigger99]

My son, who was a week away from turning 2 years old on September 11, turned to me that evening, in which we thought he was mostly playing with toys, but had obviously seen what was going on on the TV, and said, "Mama, the plane knocked the box over."

At that point, I knew the world he would grow up in would be vastly different.

 

[bored]

It reminds me that we are too complacent about our national security. We are at war and I know that can be an unpopular view.

We are at war and with an enemy that has no regards for human life. Our government doesn't seem to realize you can't negotiate with terrorists, all they want is death. Our PC society I'm afraid will be the downfall of us all.

 

[Magpie]

For me, personally, it's a day to remember how much I love my kids and my family.

I was on a parenting board when someone posted an utterly incoherent wail of grief. I had no idea what had happened, but I figured if it was big, I'd find it on CNN.

Except I couldn't get on to CNN. What I got instead was a plain page with just words - a few short lines saying that the Twin Towers had been hit by planes. I guess they'd put that up there because their main server had crashed due to everyone trying to get on at the same time to find out what was happening.

I gasped and started to cry, and my 5yo daughter immediately grabbed me and started asking what was wrong. So I made myself calm down and tried to explain to her what had happened. At first she thought the CN tower had come down, so I had to show her on the big world map where New York City is and reassure her that we were safe, it was okay, just very, very sad.

The school bus was coming to pick her and her 3yo brother up for a half day of kindergarten, so I got them ready and took them outside. I remember the day was just like today - blue skies, absolutely perfect. Except the roads were quieter than they should have been. I expect everyone was inside watching the news.

My daughter couldn't stop going on about it. "Can't we just talk to the terrorists? If they know that we're nice people, they wouldn't want to hurt us. We need to find them and talk to them!"

But my son was digging around in the bushes, and just before the bus came he emerged with stick as big as himself and said, "Don't worry, Mommy. If the bad men come here, I'll poke them!"

I had a real lump in my throat that day, sending them off to school. I got home, fielded calls from my mother and my husband, and then turned on the news and watched until they came home. Then the news went off, until Daddy got home and turned it right back on.

Our doorbell ran around dinner time, and some kids were at the door with a skinny stray cat they'd found. I needed to do something to get the children away from the TV (it's a 55 inch monster right smack in the middle of the main room), so I told them we were going to go find the kitty's owners. We took that cat to every house in a five block radius. No one would claim him. We tried to find him a new home. No one would take him. Finally we brought him back home and Daddy had pulled a chair right up in front of the TV and was staring at it with the corners of his mouth pulled right down. He said, "I'm not taking in another d*mn cat. He's going to the pound!"

So I dropped the kitty on his chest, and put the phone book beside him, and said, "You want him to go to the pound, then you make the call!"

The kitty - smart kitty! - began kneading and purring for all he was worth, and by the time I got back from putting the kids to bed, my husband was holding onto him with tears in his eyes.

We still have that cat. He's probably the best cat we've ever owned - very loving, very clever.

So that's what this day means to me. Family.

 

[Colleen27]

As is right and just. The wound won't heal if you keep picking at the scab.

The Revolutionary war happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. Pearl Harbor happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. The atomic bomb happened (twice), yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. JFK, MLK and RFK were assassinated in cold blood, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on.

To continually mourn the loss of a family member nine years after their death, making yourself feel that loss as keenly as you did on the day they died and trying to make others feel that loss as keenly as you want to, well that's seen as unhealthy in most societal circles. Yet continually morning 9/11 somehow seems healthy?

I can remember 9/11 and it reminds me that there's really nothing we can do to prevent anyone from attacking us again. The US isn't going to change how they treat other countries and Americans continue to be arrogant and abusive to other cultures and peoples. I've accepted this fact as something I can't change by myself. I've internalized it, forgiven it and now I live my life looking forward to the future instead of constantly reopening the wounds of the past. The documentaries on what happened in New York and Washington are interesting, but the event has become history to me now.

I expect the fresher grievances that I feel most keenly from the Michigan Depression of the 2000's will become history to me in as we move into 2011, 2012 and ever after. I try not to expect those who didn't have to live the Michigan Depression to not grieve for us years and years into the future, and I hope those who had to live the 9/11 events will not expect us who weren't physically there to continue to grieve years and years into the future for them.

I was working on typing an answer that didn't cross any lines, but you said it about as well as I ever could so I'll just save the time and add an "I agree" to everything you said.

 

[snykymom]

It means that, despite all the vitriol and all the rhetoric and all the internal conflict going on in this country, we're still all in this together. Our enemies don't care if we're Republican or Democrat, left wing or right. They just care that we're Americans and that we will not bow to their authority. And if we don't figure that out, we're all going down together.

It means to me that our leaders (all of them, no matter what philosophy) squandered the feeling of unity that we had in the days and months following and went back to "business as usual." It means that the enemy we now fight is different than one we've ever fought before and we cannot fight them the same way as a traditional country. We must find a new way.

I grew up in New Jersey, my dad had worked in the Trade Center (he had passed away by then), and I had spent a summer working there with him. We had many dinners at Windows on the World on the 110th floor.

I was in a meeting when it happened. When I got back to my cube, a co-worker told me, "A plane hit the World Trade Center." I thought, OK, a small prop job hit one; it happened every so often. Then she said, "The tower collapsed." I said, "Yeah, sure. Not possible." Then I checked a news site. I took the first train I could home, and as I walked to the train, all I could think of was, "It should be dark. Why is the sun out?"

The next day, or maybe the day after, there was a bomb scare at a hotel near my office. I couldn't take it at work, so I went home early again, passing near that hotel. I couldn't believe the number of people standing there rubber-necking, and people showing up with children to see what was going on! Come on, people! Did you not hear about what just happened?

I don't feel the same way as I did on that day; I have become used to the new world we live in.

 

[JoiseyMom]

As is right and just. The wound won't heal if you keep picking at the scab.

The Revolutionary war happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. Pearl Harbor happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. The atomic bomb happened (twice), yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. JFK, MLK and RFK were assassinated in cold blood, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on.

To continually mourn the loss of a family member nine years after their death, making yourself feel that loss as keenly as you did on the day they died and trying to make others feel that loss as keenly as you want to, well that's seen as unhealthy in most societal circles. Yet continually morning 9/11 somehow seems healthy?

I can remember 9/11 and it reminds me that there's really nothing we can do to prevent anyone from attacking us again. The US isn't going to change how they treat other countries and Americans continue to be arrogant and abusive to other cultures and peoples. I've accepted this fact as something I can't change by myself. I've internalized it, forgiven it and now I live my life looking forward to the future instead of constantly reopening the wounds of the past. The documentaries on what happened in New York and Washington are interesting, but the event has become history to me now.

I expect the fresher grievances that I feel most keenly from the Michigan Depression of the 2000's will become history to me in as we move into 2011, 2012 and ever after. I try not to expect those who didn't have to live the Michigan Depression to not grieve for us years and years into the future, and I hope those who had to live the 9/11 events will not expect us who weren't physically there to continue to grieve years and years into the future for them.

I agree with you. I feel like, unfortunately, every generation has their "defining" moment, where were you when "fill the blank" happened. There was Pearl Harbor, Cuban Missile Crisis/JFK/RFK. This is mine/ours.

I remember 9/11 so clearly. Everything changed that day. I lived in NJ, grew up in NY, had worked 2 blocks from the WTC for years. My DH was on a bus at the time to work a few blocks from there, I had friends working there, family. We lost 11 people from my town, some people I used to commute with. I don't need this day to remind me of what happened. I just have to drive to NYC or up the NJ Turnpike to be reminded. The views I grew up with are no longer there. The jobs/economy started going down hill at that point. Living where I live, its just there. My town has a memorial to all those lost, we actually just received a piece of steel from there and our town is going to decide what best to do with it.

I did not watch the tv this morning, I turned it off. I asked DH how long they are going to do these hugh memorials? It will always be there, but we have to move on. The full blown reading of the names has to stop at some point. I am not saying forget, we can never do that. I really wish that the construction of the new buildings had moved faster. I am sure I will get flamed for this, but that is how I feel.

 

[Nancyg56]

It means we should never forget those that perished on that tragic day. Innocent men, women, children. It means we should never forget the brave men and women on Flight 93 and the brave men and women in the NYPD and FDNY who made the ultimate sacrifice to save lives.

It means, to me anyway, that the endless bickering and politicking should stop, if only for one day, to simply remember.

Amen to that.

I was at home and saw that plane fly into the building, ran up the stairs and asked my Mom to watch. My nephew was at Paris Island in boot camp and my sister was not able to reach him, they were locked down. Her DH joined a group of medical personal waiting for teh call to go in and help. That call never came. It was surreal.

My Mom grew up during the depression, lived through that horror that was WWII, the Korean war and Vietnam. She watched the coverage all day every day and I worried about her. It seemed to dredge up all of those memories that she had just lived with for all of her life. SHe would nto turn the TV off, it was s if she needed to watch in order to believe it really happened.

She had never boarded a plane, she was terrified of flying. Chris graduated from boot camp in November 2011 and we were trying to find a way to get her to Georgia for his ceremony, she was so proud of him. My sister and I decided to rent an RV so that she would be comfortable on the long ride when she announced that we would be flying. Seriously? She told us that she was an American, no terrorist was going to frighten her off of a plane in her own country. We were so proud of her, she was terrified of flying and had made it to 80 years old without feeling the eed to board a plane but 2 short months after our whole world changed she flew to bear witness to her grandson pledging to protect and defend our Nation. You see..............stubborn gal that she was..............no one was ever going to win a battle with her by trying to scare her.

Just as I will never forget those lives lost, those hearts broken, those towers collapsing, I will never forget the vision of that little old gal spitting in the faces of those villians as she entered that jetway.
e

 

[Mermaid02]

As is right and just. The wound won't heal if you keep picking at the scab.

The Revolutionary war happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. Pearl Harbor happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. The atomic bomb happened (twice), yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. JFK, MLK and RFK were assassinated in cold blood, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on.

To continually mourn the loss of a family member nine years after their death, making yourself feel that loss as keenly as you did on the day they died and trying to make others feel that loss as keenly as you want to, well that's seen as unhealthy in most societal circles. Yet continually morning 9/11 somehow seems healthy?

I can remember 9/11 and it reminds me that there's really nothing we can do to prevent anyone from attacking us again. The US isn't going to change how they treat other countries and Americans continue to be arrogant and abusive to other cultures and peoples. I've accepted this fact as something I can't change by myself. I've internalized it, forgiven it and now I live my life looking forward to the future instead of constantly reopening the wounds of the past. The documentaries on what happened in New York and Washington are interesting, but the event has become history to me now.

I expect the fresher grievances that I feel most keenly from the Michigan Depression of the 2000's will become history to me in as we move into 2011, 2012 and ever after. I try not to expect those who didn't have to live the Michigan Depression to not grieve for us years and years into the future, and I hope those who had to live the 9/11 events will not expect us who weren't physically there to continue to grieve years and years into the future for them.

I don't feel we are picking a scab- more like irrigating a wound.

NEVER forget. Pearl Harbor Day is still recognized.... I get teary when I see ceremonies or programs on Pearl Harbor.

The day we forget and become complacent, is the day we get hit again.

 

[SaraJayne]

As is right and just. The wound won't heal if you keep picking at the scab.

The Revolutionary war happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. Pearl Harbor happened, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. The atomic bomb happened (twice), yet memories faded, people healed and life went on. JFK, MLK and RFK were assassinated in cold blood, yet memories faded, people healed and life went on.

To continually mourn the loss of a family member nine years after their death, making yourself feel that loss as keenly as you did on the day they died and trying to make others feel that loss as keenly as you want to, well that's seen as unhealthy in most societal circles. Yet continually morning 9/11 somehow seems healthy?

I can remember 9/11 and it reminds me that there's really nothing we can do to prevent anyone from attacking us again. The US isn't going to change how they treat other countries and Americans continue to be arrogant and abusive to other cultures and peoples. I've accepted this fact as something I can't change by myself. I've internalized it, forgiven it and now I live my life looking forward to the future instead of constantly reopening the wounds of the past. The documentaries on what happened in New York and Washington are interesting, but the event has become history to me now.

I expect the fresher grievances that I feel most keenly from the Michigan Depression of the 2000's will become history to me in as we move into 2011, 2012 and ever after. I try not to expect those who didn't have to live the Michigan Depression to not grieve for us years and years into the future, and I hope those who had to live the 9/11 events will not expect us who weren't physically there to continue to grieve years and years into the future for them.

I agree. The horror of 9/11 will eventually fade and become a distant memory, just like December 7th, 1941.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't feel we are picking a scab- more like irrigating a wound.

NEVER forget. Pearl Harbor Day is still recognized.... I get teary when I see ceremonies or programs on Pearl Harbor.

The day we forget and become complacent, is the day we get hit again.

ITA. I will never forget. I will never forget. I will never forget. We lost a sense of innocence that day, that is what I cannot forgive.


I will remember every time there is a discussion of where to build a Mosque and some people are afraid.

I will remember every time a "man of God" decides to burn a Koran and people cheer.

I will remember every time someone worried that the guy behind the counter is "one of them".

I will remember every time I see German Shepards patroling with armed guards at my airport

I am not picking a scab, I am mourning the way we were

 

[agnes!]

I'm having a really hard time with it this year.

Am grateful for the passengers on the plane that went down in Shanksville/Somerset County PA did what they did September 11th 2001...who know how many other innocent lives they saved that day by clearly sacrificing their own.

agnes!