We Haven't Forgotten, Have We???

[StingrayL82]

I'm surprised no one has posted this, so I'll go ahead.

Eight years ago today, our lives changed forever.

I was stationed in California and had just gotten off of guard duty. I listened to the news on the radio, on the way home.

When I got home, Sherri and I sat on the sofa, turned on Fox News, watched the Towers collapse and cried together.

I ate at Windows On The World, when I was 11, Christmas 1984. They were beautiful buildings.

Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.

Where were you?

[azflycaster]

I watch the events in shock 8 years ago as I was getting ready to go to work. I had visited the Trade Center several years earlier and had been to the visitors deck on the one tower. I will always remember the sign at the elevator to the top. It said that this was as close to heaven as some of us will ever get.

I was disappointed that so few people in my area flew their flag today. Mine flew proudly all day.

[Airslide]

We will never forget...

[sempi2]

Earlier there was an email making it's rounds to remind all Americans to put out their flags - cars - homes - business' - etc. It was one of those that said pass it on to friends and family.

We were happy and proud to fly the American flag today. As we do most other days.

[Melody Ranch]

I can never forget. Still get emotional at the thought.

[StingrayL82]

I found two pics of me on the Christmas '84 trip. The first was in Windows On The World, the second in the Lobby...notice the Citibank sign on the right side.

[Aage]

I was on a business trip in Denver, CO on 9/11, with a colleague.

I watched the video tape on the morning news as I was getting ready to leave for the client's place. We tried to have the meeting, but wound up watching the horrible sequence of events on a TV in their office.

A couple of days later when it became painfully clear that flights wouldn't resume quickly, we ended up driving from Denver to Fargo, ND where we took a bus from there to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The next morning, Saturday, we boarded the first flights out of Winnipeg since the 11th.

Needless to say, there was a very nervous feeling in the entire airport that morning.

The event itself was of such a magnitude that what it meant, and how much suffering was caused by the dastardly doings, took days to really sink in.

Aage

[myboyburt]

In my home office I have two framed black and white photos; The first is of Lady Liberty with the twin towers in the background and the second is of the Brooklyn Bridge with blue flood lights piercing the night sky where the towers once stood. Every morning I look at these photos and remember September 11, 2001. I will never forget.

[tksbaskets]

I was at work and watching the news in a conference room outside of one of our ICUs. I watched the second plane fly into the tower in horror.

My mother said that she experienced the same feelings when her family heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. She never forgot where she was or what she was doing.

I will never forget 9/11 because I was an adult when that horrific event occurred but we also must remember December 7th (Pearl Harbor), June 6th (D-Day), September 2nd...

[subfan1]

I was on my way to work and the news came on about what was going on on the east coast. That day I lost two co workers on AA Flight 77 that was flown into the Pentagon. Both left wifes and one a little girl not yet born. After 8 years I thought I can go through this day without crying. I'll guess I'll have to wait another year.
Ruben and Chad, I will never forget you.

[Airstream01]

I will never forget.

[flyfshr]

I was getting ready for work when the news was broadcast on the radio morning news. We turned on the TV and watched in horror as the second tower was struck. Went to work and classes were canceled for the day.

We flew our flag proudly today. We'll never forget.

Brad
FF

[bolerama]

We were packing up our camp near Calgary, Alberta on our way back home to Saskatoon when the cell phone rang. My brother-in-law was calling to tell us to turn on our radio (no TV). We finished packing up in a sombre mood and drove the 8 hours back home, listening to radio commentaries the whole way. When we got home, we quickly ran to the tv and sat glued, shaking. The radio announcers could not truly convey the magnitude of what video could capture. It was sickening.

Today we packed up our camp (we always do our fall camping during this week) and remembered the tragedy of just a few short years ago.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, my wife and I will always be reminded of what happened that day partially because her birthday is Sept 12. Such a sad thing happened one day before her birthday.

[bullydogsmom]

We'll never forget. Our oldest son lost a very good childhood friend, he was on the 92nd floor of tower 1. He was fresh out of college and it was his dream job. God Bless you Josh.

Annette

[Ike T]

I was sleeping in -- my day off. My aunt called me to tell me about it. We chatted for awhile and watched the towers fall together.

I ran some errands later that day. While I was out, I got a call to pack my stuff and be ready to leave immediately. Turns out I got to continue with my normal life for 2 more years. Small price to pay for those who didn't make it through the morning of 9/11.

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon 7 weeks later in DC. The course allowed us to run twice by the Pentagon. Got a good long look at the hole in the building during the run.

Definitely will not forget.

[moosetags]

On the Morning of September 11th, 2001, I was at the U.S. Customs Service Office at JFK Airport in New York City. I was part of an office inspection team that was assigned to review the operation of our offices that were part of the Office of the Special Agent in Charge, New York. I clearly recall arriving at the office parking lot at JFK with two other agents. I could see the skyline of Manhattan from there, and there was nothing amiss at that point. It was around 8:30. We went into the office building and rode the elevator to the 5th floor. When we entered the conference room in the office, I recall looking out the windows and saw that the one of the World Trade Center Buildings was burning. There was a television in the conference room that had been turned on by one of the office secretaries. Charlie Gibson on Good Morning America was reporting that an aircraft had struck the World Trade Center. At that point it was still unknown if it was an accident or otherwise.

The U.S. Customs Office at JFK went into chaos as our main Special Agent in Charge Office in Manhattan was located in the World Trade Center. At that point, I noticed out the window that another aircraft seemed to be flying very close to the burning Trade Center. Then, right before my eyes, this aircraft flew into the other tower. It was then clear that this was no accident, and my heart sank. All land lines and cell towers were immediately overwhelmed, and it was very difficult to get a call out. All of the U.S. Customs employees in the Trade Center office managed to get out of the building. Our office was on the 7th floor of one of the Trade Center buildings.

The afternoon before, I was at a meeting at our main office in the Trade Center. The inspection assignments were made at that meeting. There were three offices to be inspected, the main office in the Trade center, The Resident Agent Office in Newark, and The Resident Agent Office at JFK Airport. Assignment preferences were given by seniority. I was the senior agent on the inspection team, and chose JFK. If I had chosen the main office, I would have been in the building on that fateful morning.

I remember that day like it was yesterday, and probably always will.

Brian

[clancy_boy]

I had been given a leave-of-absence for a year to complete my Masters degree in Oceanography. So, I was at home getting ready for classes which ment I could leave later than I normally would for "work". I was brushing my teeth, and as always the TV was on to a news channel - in this case it was Katie Curic and Matt Lauer on the Today Show. The first plane crashed and I thought about the people on that plane and the investigation to follow, then as I was brushing my teeth, the 2nd plane went in as I watched. I remember the room going dark and grey and having to sit down, I called my wife at work and asked her to take greater care with her safety that day - no real reason but just great concern for a loved ones safety - we are in South Mississippi, and very far away from the threat.

I'm on the road (air travel) alot for my job, I never forget that day - I am very cautious with my travel plans. I look at the increase in security in the airports as a hassle but a natural evolution of current world events and never the fault of the person on the front lines doing their jobs at the airports.

Having been to the Persian Gulf region more than 12 times since 9/11 and going back again in less than a month, I have a sence of the magnitute of what this nation is up against. It's not a matter of if, but when something like this will happen again.

Remember our troops, a simple thank you as you pass them in uniform, a smile, hello, good day goes a very long way.

Never forget.

[DEITZ645]

I was sitting in our conference room at work rebuilding a desktop PC and spent the entire day glued to the TV.

We live out in the country and I remember the strange feeling going outside at night and looking up into the night sky and not seeing the red, green, and white blinking lights of high flying airplanes.

My mom was in Germany visiting a friend and we talked a long time on the phone that night.

When I came home from work yesterday a crane company along the highway had one of its largest cranes fully extended with the biggest american flag I have ever seen hanging from the boom. It was a windy day and the entire flag was billowing over the road. I always get a lump in my throat and goose bumps when I see Old Glory, and yesterday was no exception.

[kimandgary]

I will never forget.