Sept 11, 2001

This is a day I think nobody will forget. It's one of those days that you will remember where you were and what you were doing. Here is my experience of that tragic day...

I was living in my Grandpa's basement with my parents at the time. I was getting ready for work when Lee called me and told me to turn the T.V. on. When I did I saw that the first Building of the Trade Centers had been hit. Of course every one's reaction was that it was a fluke accident. How could someone not see that building and hit it? Then the second building was hit. What was going on? Reports were coming in that the pentagon had been hit as well and the plane going down in Philadelphia. All of these things were unfolding so fast yet it seemed like the world had stopped at the same time. Our nation was under attack and nobody knew why. It was a scary feeling not knowing if it was over or if more reports would come in of something else happening.

I remember watching the news and one of the things that stands out most to me was the sound of people slamming into cars on the street, from jumping out of the windows from the Trade Centers. Was this really happening? I saw people running from the smoke and debris bleeding and carrying other people with them. It was all so horrible and I didn't want to believe it was really happening.

The next 3 days were very somber as people tried to go about there normal lives. No planes were flying and it was just a weary feeling. People were mad, scared, and sad along with a bunch of other mixed emotions. I noticed immediately the pride that people had for our country as flags were being displayed everywhere you looked. People were ready to fight for our freedom that was being jeopardized. Lee was one of them. He was contemplating calling the army and telling them to sign him up so he could go fight for what he believed in.

So many lives were lost that day. I didn't know anybody personally, but my thoughts and prayers went out to those family's who did lose a loved one. I am saddened by the fire fighters, police, and the everyday citizen that lost there lives during this tragic time. It will definitely be a day I will never forget.

The accounts of this day really made me appreciate our military. So many men and women in our country are out there fighting for my freedom. To them I say Thank you and God Bless!

I had the opportunity to go to New York last summer. I went to visit Ground Zero and to personally experience and see with my own eyes the damage from that day. I heard stories and a personal account from our tour guide who experienced that day first hand. It is so much different than looking at pictures or watching it on T.V.

Being at the Statue of Liberty was so amazing, knowing what she stands for and having the freedoms that I have. I am so grateful to have these freedoms and I'm so glad that nobody, as hard as they would like to try, can take that away from me.

While visiting New York, I fell in love with this city. Experiencing the after math of 9/11 was an amazing and humbling experience. I can't wait to go back and see the progress of Ground Zero.

This was where the firefighters slept.

This tree fell in an old cemetery and the amazing thing is that it didn't damage any of the old headstones. It is now a monument.

This was in front of the World Trade Centers and was obviously damaged on that day.

Ground Zero