Note from the webmaster:
This page was closed for further entries on September 11, 2002 (the anniversary of the attack).
On September 6, my husband and I were invited to Washington for the swearing in of our US Ambassador to Budapest, Hungary: Nancy Brinker. Colin Powell was the speaker and swore our ambassador into office. We were standing among many other ambassadors, as well as the Ambassador of Hungary and many of our US Senators. Later that day, we were guests of the White House West Wing and the Oval Office (not to be opened to guests since 9/11). What a wonderful and memorable day for us.
On Sunday, we were at the Library of Congress where First Lady Laura Bush spoke and opened the Book Fair in Washington.
We arrived home on September 10, and as I was sorting thru my mail on the morning of the 11th, and the TV was on, I glanced up thinking I was looking at a new movie screening until it happened again, and even the TV announcers didn't know what to say. I called for my husband and said I think it is terrorism, and he said no, untill it was confirmed, we never left the TV set.
After 9/11, my granddaughter (10 years old) wanted to help the families, and she and 4 of her friends made flag pins out of beads and safety pins. They sold them for $5 per pin. As of December 1, 2001, they sent $16,000 to the New York Mayor's Office for the victims of 9/11. We are very proud of our granddaughter and her friends; it was a healing process for these young girls to help others.
We all have to sit back and realize how very lucky we are to be Americans, the freedom it allows us, no matter what our color, or religious affillation. Thank you for asking.
Joyce BelofskyI was on my way to work when I heard a news report that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. Before they knew anything about what had happened, in my heart I knew that this was a terrorist act. I went ahead to work, but spent most of the day watching the news on the internet, or on a TV in a conference room.
The worst part for me was when the plane hit the Pentagon. My mother was in DC on September 11th and was scheduled to fly out of Reagan International sometime that day. I did not know what time her flight was and I could not get a call through to her cell phone. I spent a lot of time on my cell phone talking with my sister in Michigan and my dad in Lubbock trying to find out about my mom. When my dad called and told me she was o.k. I cried for 20 minutes. My mom rented a car in DC and drove to Dallas on September 13th. I drove her from DFW to Lubbock where my mom, dad and I sat and cried together.
Every day I pray that the tragedy of September 11th will never be repeated. However upset I still am, I will not let it stop me from living my life to its fullest. I pray for all those effected. I pray for understanding. Most of all I pray for true and lasting peace.
Debbie McEnaneyI was on the way to the MLS Realtor meeting, which is held every Tuesday morning. I had the radio on and when the announcer announced that the World Trade Building had been hit I thought that a plane must have been flying mighty low. I entered the meeting and no one knew what I was talking about. Then people started coming into the meeting with the news that a second World Trade Building had been hit. Now that could not be. We left the meeting to find out the horrible truth. G-d Bless all the people that died that day and take care of the families that they left behind.
Marilyn SchafferThe day started like most any other workday; the newspaper had landed on my sidewalk at 5:30am, and a couple friends from work were taking me out to lunch (today was my birthday!). I calmly read the paper, and had some breakfast. I had downloaded the prior day's email to my laptop, and I read a number of messages offline, expecting to send the replies when I moseyed into the office in mid-morning.
When I arrived at the office, few people were milling around; I didn't think much of it. I sync'ed my email and noticed one that said "we have the TVs on in the conference rooms if you want to watch". Stupidly, I assumed it was some product announcement I missed. One of my co-workers in Vienna, Virginia (Washington DC metro) sent me an Instant Message: "we're okay here, but not so sure about New York". I hadn't watched TV or listened to the radio, and still didn't know what was going on.
Later, I'd find out that a co-worker in our Boston office (Phil Rosenzweig) had been on the first plane to crash; I can only assume he thought it was "just another hijacking" and expected this to be an annoying delay in his Boston->Los Angeles day. I also seemed to recall we had offices in the WTC (later would find that yes, we occupied 2 floors and that all our people had gotten out safely). Many others would not be so fortunate.
Gene Saunders