On the morning of September 1, 2001, I was watching the Today Show when suddenly the show was interupted by news that a small plane had hit one of the World trade Center Twin Towers. As images of billowing smoke coming from the tower were shown, Bryant Gumble and the rest of the show hosts started talking about the plane that was flying low which had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. Part of the discussion was about how and why the pilot was flying so low. Then as they continued talking and trying to figure out exactly what caused the plane to crash into the tower, another plane flew even lower and rammed straight into the opposite tower at full speed. In horror and shock I watched and that same look of shock and horror was also on Bryant Gumble’s face as he emotionally dealt with what was obvious to everyone watching – that both planes had PURPOSELY flown into the Twin Towers as part of a planned ATTACK!
My Aunt Vera Viewins, whom I affectionately call “Aunt Titti”, and I had been on the phone watching the Today Show together. She had called me right after the first plane “crashed” into the tower. I was already watching the show as we both enjoyed watching the Today Show together in the morning. I put her and my mother, Bettie Lee, on 3-way as we huddled on the phone together for the next 3 hours, and then on and off all day as we checked on our relatives who worked at the Pentagon and on the ones who lived in New York.
One of our relatives who worked at the Pentagon happened to be off that day, and another worked on the opposite side of the targeted area. None of the relatives who lived in NY had been injured physically, although they were all shaken up. Some of them talked about how they had had to walk miles that day — numbly or tearfully making their way toward home. My cousin told me her walk home to the nearest transportation was nothing compared to the horror of what had happened!
During the next several days, a number of my relatives and friends and I stayed in close contact as we tearfully and vigilantly watched with the rest of the world as every second of the most tragic horror many of us had ever witnessed unfolded before our eyes. It seemed like the entire world was shaken and crying — weeping for family, friends, respondents, fellow countrymen and for a grieving America.
Throughout the next several weeks following the attack, some of us participated in several candlelight vigils and prayer services in remembrance of 9-1-1 victims, their families, and responsdents who were still working diligently day and night. The shared tears, heartache, and feeling of unity brought everyone together in beautiful harmony. As a matter of fact, the tragedy brought the entire country together in the most extraordinarily unparallelled show of strength and oneness that I have seen in my lifetime!
It would be months before things would get back near normal for our entire family, friends, and others in the country. We were in solidarity with the rest of America as we kept a prayerful and tearful vigil and grieved over daily announcements of more bodies discovered in the ashy rubble. But … it would be years before any semblance of normality would be experienced by those directly impacted by the 9-1-1 attack!
Yes, that day is indeligibly etched in my mind and I continue to pray for all who were devastated and impacted by the horrific 9-1-1 attack! I also pray that America will never again experience such a devastating tragedy, and that Americans will reach down into the depths of their souls to restore that sense of harmony and oneness we shared on the day our country wept!