Never Forget This Date

September 11 is always a day of reflection for so many of us- because our world and our lives changed on this date in 2001. It was a day of great pain and sadness- of stunned silence and disbelief. Two hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center- one hit the Pentagon- and one crashed to earth when some courageous passengers fought back against the terrorists. I recall all too well being riveted to what was unfolding on the television screen- a plane had hit one of the towers of New York’s World Trade Center. Was it a tragic accident? Conflicting reports were coming in to the various news agencies- and then- while I was watching the live video of the World Trade Center- I saw the second plane hit. I felt so numb-what the hell was happening? This was no accident. What enemy was unleashing this horrible catastrophe upon us? The awful news kept coming- the Pentagon crash, reports of people leaping to their death from the towers-and then the terrible collapse of the towers. How could this happen- here in America? Rumors were rampant- alleged plots, false sightings, people afraid to go to work or school. All aircraft grounded. The facts slowly emerged, and our hearts and minds ached. Details filled in- so many lives lost, passengers, workers, police, firemen- so many innocent victims. Local residents were afraid to find out if friends or relatives had been among the growing numbers of casualties. So many prayers and tears and all the anger – what could we do? How could we fight back? I recall hearing and reading NBC reporter Carol Marin’s stories of running from the dust cloud of the collapsing towers. I remember the police and firemen from all over the country heading to New York to see if they could help. My heart ached to hear the stories of the last cell phone calls from loved ones to their families and friends. You can’t forget the broadcasts with the newsmen and women overwhelmed- in tears, unable to speak. It seemed like a huge blanket of sadness covered everything and everybody. The memories of 9/11 don’t come strictly from right around the original time of the event either. I remember, years later, learning that the sweet young lady wrestler I had met, TNA Knockout Rosita, had lost a family member in the tragedy. You recall some misguided protests about the memorial site at Ground Zero. Every time you go through an airport, or an officer building which has had heightened security ever since the tragedy, you feel it all again- maybe not as strong, but- don’t you feel it? The towers are gone. When you see an old TV show or movie in which they appear in the old New York skyline, it seems that whatever the story is disappears from your attention as you remember the loss that occurred. Please take some time to remember today- the one thing I always remember is that lone American flag that was flown at Ground Zero, lit up by a spotlight. It meant to me that, in spite of everything and everyone that had fallen- we were still standing as a people- as a nation- and we were still standing together…and we should never forget what that meant.