vain, and that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of Freedom. And
this Government, of the people, by the people,for the people shall not
perish from the Earth."
Abe Lincoln Nov. 19, 1863
The worst tragedy in U. S. History happened today, September 11, 2001. It was said more Americans died today than in the entire Civil War. I awoke to the news of reports that an airplane had hit one of the buildings (called the Twin Towers) of the World Trade Center. My son Clay Dunn, called me to the television and we watched it live together. We were paralized as we watched the events unfold that morning. As we watched, a second airplane hit the other Tower of the World Trade Center. We have experienced Terrorism from Middle Eastern countries since the 1980's and at that moment we knew...the world knew... this was not an accident or error by the pilots of the jet airliners. it was just not a coincidence two planes crashed into the two tallest sky scrapers in Manhattan, NY. I headed for the bathroom and vomited. I felt sick but knew I had to get ready for work. It was hard to walk away from the news. We didn't know what would come next. I showered and tried to get Clay to get ready for school. He was still watching the events unfold and when I returned to his room from my shower, we watched the buildings burning in great sadness and felt confusion. We speculated that is was probably terrorists.. I went to my car and listened to news reports on the way to work. It was terrifying. The News reporters were just as confused as to what was taking place. When I arrived at work, my Suprevisor had set up a little TV in the conference room, and several of us glared at the TV. We watched in astoundment, the first bulding to be attacked, tumble to the ground in just seconds. Some of my co-workers were crying. I just stood still with my hand covering my mouth, thinking of how many innocent people were being crushed, burned and mangled to their deaths. Soon after, we heard the news that it was the work of hijackers and that another plane in Pennsylvania had been hijacked. This happened minutes later. That plane crashed 80 miles South East of Pittsburgh in Summer Co. It did not hit a target. We speculated that something had gone wrong for the hijackers and that possibly American citizens had spoiled the hijackers plot. The next day we heard that an American had called his wife, by cell phone and told her they had been hijacked and he and 2 other men planned on overtaking the hijackers, because they knew their fate. Those men saved the white house from being hit by the plane. Our president and his cabinet flew to undisclosed locations. Later it was found that he flew to Shrevport, LA., to an airforce base. Then they left and arrived near Omaha, NE, where they left and returned back to Washington D.C.
On Sept 12, 2001, we starting getting reports that 3-6 hijackers a piece had taken over each plane. The president shut down the airports and boarders soon after the attacks, allowing no one to leave the country, which was a good move. All other flights in the air where deverted to Canadian airports and detained. We will know in the days to come who is responsible and they will pay. The Americans want justice and our President has assured us that we will hunt down those responsible on. Sept. 12, 2001. There will be war in the days to come but our government wants to be sure of who the terrorists are before they attack. We are very patriotic and this has brought the country together. Our company flag ran half staff today in honor of the dead. The country will honor those that died and wear red, white and blue tomorrow (Sept 13, 2001, in their honor. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of the innnocent victims killed that day.