Never Forget...

Everyone in our generation can remember exactly where they were when they heard about (or saw) the attacks on our nation. 20% of people out there know someone who was hurt or killed in the attacks.

Twenty Percent.

I had the day off from work, and was taking my nearly 1-year old Hathlet to the church where his grandmother worked. We were going to pick her up and have a picnic on that gorgeous September late morning.

The morning was spent with my son. We had the CD player on for company. When the first plane hit the Towers at 8:46am Hathlet was getting a bath. When the second one hit at 9:02, I was getting him dressed, and singing the Wiggles to him to make him smile.

We set out around 10am, and had his favorite CD on in the car. We were smiling and laughing the whole way to my mom's church. When we got there, the lot was full.

So was the satellite lot across the street.

I found my mother standing in the driveway wringing her hands. She met me at the car with tears streaming down her face, and told me what had happened. The church was packed to overflowing with people coming to pray for the souls who were lost. They were not glued to their televisions, watching the horrifying footage of the second plane hitting the tower. They were not watching the talking heads speculating about who was behind the cowardly attacks.

My mother and I joined the congregation in prayer.

An hour later, the phones started ringing.

My mother's rang; my aunt couldn't find her daughter. My cousin is a Forensic Specialist for the city of NY, working in the Bronx. She had been working that week in a building across the street from the Towers. When the planes hit, all the windows in her building were blown in. She was never so frightened in her life, and still, to this day, cringes when a plane is flying low overhead.

It took several hours for her to get somewhere that she could call home, and when that second call came, my aunt collapsed because she thought she was getting a death call.



Take a moment today to remember...

In NEW YORK: 2,792 were killed at the World Trade Center: Fifty-nine are listed as missing. The medical examiner's office has issued 1,411 death certificates. An additional 1,327 death certificates have been issued without a body at the request of victims' families. Includes all passengers and crew on hijacked planes:

American Airlines Flight 11: 87 passengers and crew
United Airlines Flight 175: 60 passengers and crew

WASHINGTON: 184 killed at the Pentagon: 125 in the building, 59 passengers and crew on American Flight 77

PENNSYLVANIA: 40 passengers and crew on United Flight 93


Catte has a true story of heroism on her site this morning, along with a tribute video she put together. She may not consider herself a hero, but she is. Catte, along with all the other military, fire, and police protectors of this country are Heroes. Capital 'H'. They give of themselves selflessly and without hesitation every day.

For Catte; for my cousins and dear friends who are in the Navy; for my Uncle, who is Navy Intelligence, retired; and for all of the other Heroes of our great nation, thank you.

Thank you for making sacrifices to keep our country free.

I love you all and pray for you every day.

~ Hath