9/11 Attacks - 20 Year Anniversary - 2001-2021

As mentioned - wasn’t alive when JFK was shot - but 2 days people of my generation will remember - Challenger and 9/11.

9/11 was just so unreal - I mean we saw attacks there before and bombings in OKC but no one saw THIS coming. It had been years since a US flight was hijacked.

I remember it being my 2nd day at a new job - telesales. First day on our own - started at 8:30 that morning and by 9 the news was unfolding. My idiot boss yelling at people to keep cold calling and following up on leads - phones inbound obviously weren’t ringing and everyone just wanted to watch the news.

3 of my friends had just started a few months earlier working for a private jet company. They were calling me with updates and telling me there was a plane in Cleveland, Ohio that was stopped and had suspicions high because of a group of passengers. So I was alternating between their calls making it looked like I was working and then slipping into the restroom which had a small connecting hall to the apartment attached (conveniently occupied by an acquaintance and friend of a friend who was letting us check in on watch their tv).

Most sobering part of it was getting off work at 3 that day. Stopped at local VFW and just a few regulars hanging around - the look on their faces told the story. They were worried - they had been in wars and saw we were headed for another. Later that night went to a friends knowing his younger brother and his buddies just got back from basic Monday night…talking with them, there was a fear I hope I never see again in a mans eyes. They signed on thinking “do a couple years - pay for college” and quickly realized that might change for them in the coming weeks. Fortunately, they never saw the Middle East.

 

My friend's grandson turns 20 today it's kind of a heavy load for him to bear. I can't imagine having your birthday synonymous with that day.

 

I was 12 years old, living in southwestern British Columbia seemingly a whole world away from NYC. With the time zones, it was pretty early and I hadn't gotten up for school yet. My dad woke me up by turning on the clock-radio in my room. He said "America has been attacked. The world has changed forever". I listened to the shock in the news anchor's voice as the second plane hit. "No no no, oh god no, not another one..." are the words that stuck with me. I remember turning to my dad and telling him something to the effect of "this wasn't an accident. we're going to war". Apparently even that young, I guessed at the consequences of that day.

I didn't see video footage until that afternoon (we didn't have cable) when our teacher wheeled the TV in and turned on the news. My dad was a firefighter and my uncle is a cop. The tragedy and sacrifice on that day really hit home for me.

God Bless America.