Thank you to all who made the ultimate sacrifice that day, and those who fought to protect us, my best friend Nate included.
We had the talk with the kids last night at bedtime about how important today is. It was tough, but something I think they were ready to hear. I was battling back tears when they asked questions and asked why it happened…..
We all have our differences and different opinions, but that day had everyone remembering what is really important in life.
You don’t want to be on the top of Uncle Sam’s list.
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Yeah I still can remember the exact moment a guy I was working with came up and said something happened and we turned the TV on in time to watch the second plane hit the tower. Still gives me chills as I am typing this now. Yes thank you to all who were there and especially to those who didn’t make it out of there. God Bless all of you!!
I’m really fascinated by the intelligence and investigation of it. The National Geographic Channel has put together a series of documentaries called Inside 9/11 and its really interesting how Al Queda and Bin Laden and the FBI was trying to track him down before, during, and after the events.
If you want an excellent read about the Intel and special forces operation that took down Bin Laden, read “No Easy Day”. Written by one of the Navy seals that participated in the operation it is a fascinating book about just how dedicated both the members of our intelligence and military are.
Grouse
Many heros that day stepped up and made the ultimate sacrifice. May God bless there souls.
I remember that day well. My wife and I were married just 3 days prior. We were on our honeymoon at Disney World. We were rushing to get packed and out of our hotel to go to Clearwater for a few days. Got a call and were told to sit down and turn the TV on. Turned it on Just as the plane hit the 2nd Tower. Needless to say we didn’t Fly back home. We keep our rental car and drove home. My wife was not sure she could get on a plane after what had happened. As sad as that Event was and as much as I wish it had never Happened, I wish the Country was as united and close as they were in the days following that event. It seemed like everything else happening around people at that time didn’t matter. They came together and stood united and people were proud of the country we were. Its sad that it takes a event like that for people to find unity and Pride in our country.
I wish the Country was as united and close as they were in the days following that event. It seemed like everything else happening around people at that time didn’t matter. They came together and stood united and people were proud of the country we were. Its sad that it takes a event like that for people to find unity and Pride in our country.
You said it before I did Thump!
“The lesson of 9/11 is that America is truly exceptional. We withstood the worst attack of our history, intended by our enemies to destroy us. Instead, it drew us closer and made us more united. Our love for freedom and one another has given us a strength that surprised even ourselves.” — Rudy Giuliani
Here in Alexandria they do a 9-11 tribute on the 3M property. They place a flag in the ground for each of the 2996 victims.
My wife and kids participated and I was in awe at the amount of effort that went into to this. Prior to each flag being placed they needed to make a small hole in the ground to stick the flag into.
I stopped by to bring my kids home and they were still placing flags. I helped put in a few flags and only at that time did it really hit me what each flag meant.
For every flag we put in the ground it meant someone didn’t go home that day. The heart break behind each flag is an incredible thought. I’ve driven by this tribute in the past and thought, “wow what a great tribute” Never once did I think about each flag until I was actually putting a flag in the ground.
It was hard for me to hold it together, when I thought about what I was actually doing and what it represented. If you’re near Alexandria I hope you get a chance to drive by.
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For every flag we put in the ground it meant someone didn’t go home that day.
That’s awesome Joe, thanks for sharing! I shared this on FB, but the transcript from Tom Burnett, a St. John’s MN grad who was on United Flight 93, calling his wife Deena is one of the most powerful things I read every year.
Transcript of Tom’s Last Calls to Deena
6:27 a.m.( pacific time) First cell phone call from Tom to Deena
Deena: Hello
Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, are you O.K.?
Tom: No, I’m not. I’m on an airplane that has been hijacked.
Deena: Hijacked?
Tom: Yes, They just knifed a guy.
Deena: A passenger?
Tom: Yes.
Deena: Where are you? Are you in the air?
Tom: Yes, yes, just listen. Our airplane has been hijacked. It’s United Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco. We are in the air. The hijackers have already knifed a guy, one of them has a gun, they are telling us there is a bomb on board, please call the authorities. He hung up.
6:31 Deena calls 911
6:34 The phone rang in on call waiting, Tom’s second cell phone call.
Deena: Hello
Tom: They’re in the cockpit. The guy they knifed is dead.
Deena: He’s dead?
Tom: Yes. I tried to help him, but I couldn’t get a pulse.
Deena: Tom, they are hijacking planes all up and down the east coast. They are taking them and hitting designated targets. They’ve already hit both towers of the World Trade Center.
Tom: They’re talking about crashing this plane. (a pause) Oh my God. It’s a suicide mission…(he then tells people sitting around him)
Deena: Who are you talking to?
Tom: My seatmate. Do you know which airline is involved?
Deena: No, they don’t know if they’re commercial airlines or not. The newsreporters are speculating cargo planes, private planes and commercial. No one knows.
Tom: How many planes are there?
Deena: They’re not sure, at least three. Maybe more.
Tom: O.K….O.K….Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No.
Tom: We’re turning back toward New York. We’re going back to the World Trade Center. No, wait, we’re turning back the other way. We’re going south.
Deena: What do you see?
Tom: Just a minute, I’m looking. I don’t see anything, we’re over a rural area. It’s just fields. I’ve gotta go.
He hung up.
6:45 a.m. Third cell phone call from Tom to Deena
Tom: Deena
Deena: Tom, you’re O.K. (I thought at this point he had just survived the Pentagon plane crash).
Tom: No, I’m not.
Deena: They just hit the Pentagon.
Tom: (tells people sitting around him “They just hit the Pentagon.”)
Tom: O.K….O.K. What else can you tell me?
Deena: They think five airplanes have been hijacked. One is still on the ground. They believe all of them are commercial planes. I haven’t heard them say which airline, but all of them have originated on the east coast.
Tom: Do you know who is involved?
Deena: No
Tom: What is the probability of their having a bomb on board? I don’t think they have one. I think they’re just telling us that for crowd control.
Deena: A plane can survive a bomb if it’s in the right place.
Tom: Did you call the authorities?
Deena: Yes, they didn’t know anything about your plane.
Tom: They’re talking about crashing this plane into the ground. We have to do something. I’m putting a plan together.
Deena: Who’s helping you?
Tom: Different people. Several people. There’s a group of us. Don’t worry. I’ll call you back.
6:54 a.m. Fourth cell phone call to Tom to Deena
Deena: Tom?
Tom: Hi. Anything new?
Deena: No
Tom: Where are the kids?
Deena: They’re fine. They’re sitting at the table having breakfast. They’re asking to talk to you.
Tom: Tell them I’ll talk to them later
Deena: I called your parents. They know your plane has been hijacked.
Tom: Oh…you shouldn’t have worried them. How are they doing?
Deena: They’re O.K.. Mary and Martha are with them.
Tom: Good. (a long quiet pause) We’re waiting until we’re over a rural area. We’re going to take back the airplane.
Deena: No! Sit down, be still, be quiet, and don’t draw attention to yourself! (The exact words taught to me by Delta Airlines Flight Attendant Training).
Tom: Deena! If they’re going to crash this plane into the ground, we’re going to have do something!
Deena: What about the authorities?
Tom: We can’t wait for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway.
It’s up to us. I think we can do it.
Deena: What do you want me to do?
Tom: Pray, Deena, just pray.
Deena: (after a long pause) I love you.
Tom: Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.
He hung up
You don’t want to be on the top of Uncle Sam’s list.
I have that picture laminated. I need to get it framed and hung up.
Awesome post bigwerm.
That 2nd plane hitting the tower, wow.
My dad was a firefighter-all those brave firefighters rushing up that building…
I wish we could somehow celebrate all the bad plans that have been stopped, so many smart heroes. Had 911 been stopped(many chances)the 911 plan would have been a mid level story only that week.
My wife and I got home from our honeymoon 2 days prior. It was my first day on my new job.
I listened to a video this morning of all the available phone calls to loved ones and emergency as they said their I Love you’s and good byes. Just heart wrenching.
Man, just heartbreaking to read Tom and Deena’s last conversation.
I had graduated high school that June and was enjoying the fact that didn’t have to go back to school that Sept. I slept in late that morning and was wondering why The Price Is Right wasn’t on. I flipped though several channels to find the same thing playing on every channel, and sat there watching quietly as so many lives were lost. It seemed so unreal, but I really loved the sense of community, togetherness, compassion, and the patriotism we saw for several weeks after, as what is usually that follows in the wake of a tradgety.
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