My Memories of 9/11

On 9/11/2001 at around 6am west coast time, I was at home and in bed. My phone rang and it was a friend saying “turn on the tv right now, the world trade center is on fire!”. My husband got up and turned on our bedroom tv to the scariest site I have ever seen. That day I was shocked, upset, angered, but I was also determined to do something. What could I do? I was on the west coast? As our friends started coming over and we kept listening to the news, someone said the red cross needs blood. That was all it took. About 8 of us grabbed some snacks and water and headed down to our local red cross. When we arrived, there were already people standing in a line out the door and half way into the parking lot. Businesses were bringing us drinks, food, and support. As we all talked, complete strangers mind you, we all had the same goal, how can we help? Pretty soon someone had a radio on and the President came on to give us an update. We all stopped and listened closely. As the hours went by a nurse from the red cross came out and said “if you’re not already inside and filling out paperwork we can’t take you today.” Since we were about 30 people back we went home.

Disappointed that we couldn’t give blood and still not sure what to do, we gathered at my house to eat, drink, and talk. People everywhere were comparing it to Pearl Harbor, saying this will not go unanswered. But who were we going to attack? I went out to the garage and grabbed some things from my 4th of July box and started putting up American flags all over my front yard, and put up our big house flag as well. I noticed that almost everyone on the block had put out their own American flag. We all were touched by this thing. I didn’t want to give it a name because I really didn’t know what to say. That was a very long day out here, I could only imagine how long it was over there.

Today as we all look back, some memories might be blurry, but I will never forget the men and women who ran into the buildings as they were on fire to save those who needed help!

Thank you NYPD, FDNY, Port Authority, and all who helped the day of, and every day since. We have survived and we will go on!


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