Six Years Ago Today
How Do You Remember September 11th?
By Chuck Hyde, Editor of StandBesideHer.com
In 2001 I was working evenings but awoke early to see my kids off to school. So on the morning of September 11th, I was on the couch, watching the news when the first plane flew into the World Trade Center. Like many of you, this was a defining moment of my life. Previous generations remember what they were doing when they heard about Pearl Harbor or JFK’s assassination. 9/11 was our Pearl Harbor.
Six years later I see film clips of this horrific tragedy and the events and images come flooding back.
8:45 - American Airlines Flight 11 with 92 souls on board crashes into the north World Trade Center tower.
9:03 – United Airlines Flight 175 with 62 souls on board crashes into the south World Trade Center tower.
9:40 – American Airlines Flight 77 with 64 souls on board crashes into the west side of the Pentagon.
10:07 – United Airlines Flight 93 with 44 souls on board crashes into a field in Pennsylvania after being commandeered by the passengers.
The planes flying into the twin towers, the smoke billowing from the gapping wound in the side of the buildings, people jumping to their death to flee the flames, and finally, the towers collapsing from the heat. I remember the devastation of the Pentagon after flight 77 was flown into it. I remember the stories of heroism of the passengers of United Airlines flight 93, overtaking the murderers on board and crashing the plane in Pennsylvania to keep the terrorists from using it as a weapon. God only knows how many lives their selfless act saved.
More that 2600 people died in the World Trade Towers.
125 people died in the Pentagon.
The total surpassed the death toll at Pearl Harbor.
The rescue workers rushing in to help at the Twin Towers and the Pentagon risking their lives. Some, sadly, losing their lives. Salvagers searching the destruction for months. These searchers knew that these remains were somebody’s wife or husband, somebody’s child, someone else’s mother or father and they were determined to not leave these remains behind and unaccounted for. Six years later some of these rescue workers and members of the search crews still carry physical, medical, or emotional scars from this day and the months that followed.
I remember it like it was yesterday but I often wonder if, as a society, the memory is fading. To some extent this is a natural occurrence. We had to, as a society, get back to the act of living our lives. It can even be argued that the fact that we have returned to normalcy is a triumph over the savagery committed on that day and a victory over the murderers who committed this evil act. By returning to normal we have shown these men that they have not defeated us, America as a nation is far stronger than they knew.
Sadly though, we have members of our society who wish to dismiss the events of this horrific day to promote their own political agenda. We have politicians who have such a hatred of President George Bush that they have attempted to downplay the significance of the day to prevent him from gaining any political advantage. While I believe that all is fair in politics and I do not believe that President Bush should use the events of 9/11 for political leverage, it is despicable for his political opponents to use these events as a political football.
We have presidential candidate John Edwards calling the war on terror a “bumper sticker slogan” for George Bush. There is no delicate way to put this, I think John Edwards can take this viewpoint and go straight to Hell with it.
Finally, we have the lunatic fringe who has several theories about the day. These theories range from the notion that varying combinations of George Bush, “the Jews”, and “big oil” conspired to cause (or let happen) the events of 9/11 to the accusation that the U.S. themselves shot the planes down. Even Rosie O’Donnell, who obviously has a degree in engineering that we didn’t know about, has asserted that the twin towers could not have collapsed from the heat as stated by the official findings.
I believe that one of the most important examples we have exhibited for the extremists that committed, helped plan, or support this evil act is that a free society is one that promotes political discourse and encourages opposition. With this freedom though comes a responsibility to support our nation, whether you are in agreement or not. It is this support of her people that has made ours such a strong and enduring nation for over 200 years. It is my wish then that while we have honest and fair review of the events of this day and the actions (and inactions) of the weeks and years that proceeded it, we are able to put aside petty political posturing and pay the proper respect this day deserves.
So, get out of bed today, go to work, go to school, play with your children. In other words, live your life. Take a moment though to remember the events of September 11th, 2001. Remember the innocent lives lost due to the twisted actions of evil men. Remember the rescuers who’s lives were either lost or changed forever on that day. Most importantly, remember our fellow Americans who lost loved ones on this day. What was stolen from them in an instant on this sunny September day in 2001 is far more precious than any possession they will ever own. That’s what’s on my mind.
About The Author: Chuck Hyde is editor of StandBesideHer.com. He is also a husband and father of two teenage boys and a younger daughter. His family lives in the northern Midwestern rural United States, where they enjoy camping, fishing, and other outdoor activities together. Chuck is a Registered Nurse in an inner city emergency room and has had a lifelong addiction to politics.
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