Thread: 9/11 Tribute - Heartache Still Lingers

9/11 Tribute - Heartache Still Lingers

Posted by Wendi Medashefski on September 10, 2008

by Wendi Medashefski

We all remember that beautiful, blue-skied morning in September 2001 - not because of the unusually-warm temperatures or clarity, but because of the frightful tragedy perpetrated against this country and her people.

That morning, at 8:46am EDT, American Airlines flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, NY. News crews arrived, people nearby came to see what had happened, and police and fire departments were called in. While the world was watching the scene unfold on television, something could be seen in the air coming towards the twin towers. We watched in horror as the second hijacked plane, United Airlines flight 175, crashed into the South Tower at 9:03am. The late Peter Jennings, anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight for 22 years, stayed with the viewers around the clock as each subsequent event took place, and the explanations started to come in.

Very early on, the nation was informed that Osama bin Laden and his terrorist group al-Qaeda were suspected of orchestrating the attacks on US soil. Some of us remembered bin Laden as one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted for the 1993 attack on the WTC. Others just weren’t ready to understand who might have had a hand in such a disaster. While we listened to some background information on bin Laden, another news alert came out that American Airlines flight 77 had crashed into the western facade of the Pentagon at 9:37am. The Pentagon??

While we were trying hard to fathom how anyone could have the audacity to go after not only the financial pillars of the world, but also our own security headquarters, we watched as the news flipped back over to the WTC. At 9:59am, the South Tower collapsed. With another hijacked plane still in the air, we held our breath waiting to see what might happen. United Airlines flight 93 crash-landed in Shanksville, PA, presumably on its way to Washington DC, at 10:03am.

WTC North Tower collapsed at 10:28am. For the next few hours, we tried to deal with the plethora of emotions that gripped us individually and as a nation. Then, at 5:20pm, WTC building 7 collapsed. We wondered if it was another set of attacks, or just fallout from the events that morning. Many of us stayed up all night, watching and waiting for word of survivors. Hundreds of rescue personnel never made it out of the buildings, and many workers never came home that night. We hoped and prayed that the rescue workers would tell us that they heard voices crying for help, that people still alive could be found and saved.

But that would never come.

The thousands of people trapped in the buildings when they collapsed died with the destruction of the towers, and those aboard the aircrafts were never recovered, either.

Through all the conspiracy theories, the 9/11 Commission, and denials from every facet of the government, the fact still remains that we lost almost 3,000 Americans that day.

I was not in NY when the attacks happened; in fact, I haven’t been to NY at all since I was in the Girl Scouts twenty years ago and climbed the stairs in the Statue of Liberty. But I love America and Lady Liberty, and seeing the smoke plume waft passed her on 9/11/01 was gut-wrenching. I have a close friend who was there in New York on a rescue team that day seven years ago. He lost three family members, and has just started to talk about it little bit in the last few weeks. His descriptions of what happened are breathtaking, sorrowful tales of terror, but I feel compelled to listen, and even shed tears sharing his pain, because I don’t want to forget. I don’t want anyone to forget.

As each of the times of tragedy occurred on 9/11/01, I will be proudly standing on my porch, with my hand over my heart, keeping watch over my beautiful American flag, at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37, 9:59, 10:03, 10:28am, and 5:20pm. Seven times I will be crying my heart out. Seven times I will appreciate the meaning of Old Glory. Seven times I will pray for those who died that day, their families and friends, and for the future of America. It’s only fitting on the seventh anniversary.

PA Pundits

Thanks April! That's a great poem. I'm glad you shared it.