9/11 was one of the darkest days in the modern history of America. Two planes struck the World Trade Center towers. A third plane struck the Pentagon. While the fourth was brought down in a field by people far braver than I could be. On that day alone close to three-thousand people lost their lives.
For me it was a typical day. I was getting ready to head into a parts sorting job over in Fenton, MI. Leaving around 7am on my way to this job which was about a twenty minuet drive. Something didn’t feel right to me. I saw the sun trying to poke though the clouds and something just got my attention in the wrong way. I had this evil feeling in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t quite place. The thing that stood out to me was the fact that I remember seeing the clouds as I was getting on to South I75. I remember whispering the words “ominous” as I merged into almost no traffic.
The morning was pretty much normal as I recall. I was clocked into the job at 8am and was in the “rubber room” sorting parts of the day. Cinda, who was my direct supervisor was in the room along with a few others. Bobby was working the main press in the next room over. Of course he had the radio on. I heard the first reports of what was taking place and was trying to make sense of what I was listening too. It wasn’t long after the first plane hit that I had realized that something very bad was taking place. To be honest I’m not sure the company owners Emma and Preston fully knew the gravity of what had taken place. As someone who is greater tuned into emotions I was overwhelmed. All I know is that I could no longer work and just had to go home before lunch. While I probably did my self no favors by leaving I felt it was the best decision at the time. I got home by the time the second plane had hit. The towers had crumbled to the ground. Wasn’t long after that I had learned about the attack on the Pentagon. The rest of the day was a blur after that. Other than this overwhelming sense of fear and dread. Not so much fear for myself. But for others. Wondering if another attack was going to take place. Wonder what would happen next.
Over the years I have often reflected on that dark time in our history. The world has changed much. The young no longer know the history or the stories that came from that day. Almost to a point that it has become a footnote in our lives.
We should always remember the lives that were lost on that day. The stories of people becoming true heroes in the face of their own mortality. We should always remember the first responders and the every day people who stepped up during events that have forever changed our nation. Along with the people who passed on long after as a direct result of the help they gave.
The years have moved on and time has almost forgotten. I recall that for a while. The parishes were full of people again. A reminder of how powerful and amazing God was for us in the face of this great sorrow. For a moment it seemed like our trust in God was restored. However time moves on. With no further events to shake us we started to abandon the church again.
As time moves on we have slowly started to forget the impact this day had. Yet it is something that we should always try and remember. That no matter what has happened our nation could very well face this again. We should also remember the men and women who gave so much. Many just being innocents that got caught in evil’s wake.
I remember the days events. Painful and powerful reminders. I recall the fear that I had and the comfort that came from being in the church. I think the greatest thing that I have learned is how important for me it was to trust God in all of this. Even though that was difficult to do. -
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