Where Were You? 9-11 Memories and Tribute
September 11th, 2009 by Joe Burgess
Soon after the terrorists crashed the planes into the Twin Towers in New York City, and most Americans realized that we were not as safe as we all thought we were, country singer Alan Jackson released a song that summed up how a lot of people felt, and how they reacted.
The song asked, “Where were you?” on that September 11 morning, 2001.
As we stop and remember where we were that September morning, let’s also remember the Americans that lost their lives that day, and the families that were left behind.
Everyone is welcome to join in, and remember where you were, and what you did that morning,
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I was still working at the Courthouse then…I remember folks coming into the office and talking about it…then someone brought us a little TV to watch and we stood there, dumbstruck, at what we were seeing. It felt like we were in a nightmare.
I had worked the late shift the night before. The morning that it happened, a friend and co-worker, David Johnston, called me and told me about the first attack on the Twin Towers.
Like most of America, I was flipping between FOX and CNN. I was watching as the second plane flew in the other tower.
Later that day, I called friends and family, and told them how much they meant to me.
The attack seemed so unreal, but those were Americans, just like us, that died that morning.
Joe Burgess.
I answered the phone at the office (in the Courthouse) and it was my supervisor’s wife wanting to talk with him. From the conversation, I knew he was very upset. When he hung up the phone he started jumping up and down, hollering OSAMA BIN LADEN, OSAMA BIN LADEN. He was saying it so fast I could not make out what he was saying. After I got him calmed down he told me what had happened. He is no longer my supervisor but I can still see him jumping up and down. Needless to say, that was one of the worse days of my life knowing that our great country that God gave us was being invaded.
I was living near Rochester, NY on September 11, 2001. I was listening to the local NPR classical music station when the announcer said they had gotten reports of a plane hittting one tower of the WTC. He said nothing about the sizee of the plane involved or about any damage. I think he had no information about that. I remember thinking, “Some idiot in a prop plane.” Then word came of a second plane hitting the second tower, as well as a crash at the Pentagon. The announcer began to play funereal music and, for thhe first in my life, I turned off the radio and turned on the TV. I was horrified by the images. I got my master’s degree at the University of Virginia, so I knew many people in Washington. Fortunately, I have not heard that any of my friends were among the victims.
Southern California. Camp Wilson…back side of 29 palms. I was standing in line to get into the head when the red flag went up. We had 5 min to make one phone call to our parents. We could say nothing about what we were doing just I love you mom and dad. I didnt know what to do just what I was trained to do…fight. we were called off at the air port in 29 palms. We had no mission but were prepared for it. Really makes you think of the things you have. And when you have actually seen what its like …you really learn to love the things that you do have. Terrible day for everyone especially those who lost loved ones and for the ones that were lost. R.I.P!!
I was working at Taco Bell part time during September of 2001. I was in my sophmore year at UAM. I remember the little black and white tv we had in the manager’s office. Everyone was called back to look at it and several people started crying and whinning about what to do as we looked at the footage. We were all sent home that day and the old Taco Bell closed the only day I can ever remember! It was a sad day. So many people were scared. So many innocent lives lost over ignorance and stupidity just because we don’t believe in the same things…
It seems as if it just happened yesterday. Seeing the video on the news this morning brought it all back so clearly. At that time all Americans stood together as one – one Nation, one Nationality – Americans, undivided. It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. We have not defeated the enemy yet, but hopefully we will soon and then our guys and gals can come home from a very long war. We must defeat terrorism or at least those who are the known terrorists. We did not think that it could touch the United States, but it did and it still can and will if we let our guard down. I so much wish the United States could become the United States again. Americans – just Americans, you mess with my brother or sister American, you mess with me. The hate inside the U.S. has to stop somewhere. Too bad it takes such a catastrophic event to get us together as one.
My wife and I were at Children’s Hospital talking to the doctor about our 5 day old son, who was scheduled to have emergency open heart surgery. I remember the doctor telling us that our little baby could not have surgery because of something that happened in New York. He said that the blood bank was put on hold. I remember being very angry and I did not understand why whatever was happing in NY was more important than my son having his heart surgery! It was not until later that I found out what happened in NY. But still, did my son’s life not matter? He did have his surgery on September 12 and he just had his eighth birthday. I thank God for saving his life. I do feel for those who lost loved ones on that terrible day, but my son’s life was in danger. May the Lord Jesus Christ give each of you strength as you remember that day!
I was teaching at Hermitage at the time. A co-worker of mine, who was a practical joker, told me that planes had crashed into the Twin Towers. I stood there waiting on the punch line. There was not one. It took him a while to convince me that he was not joking. After that, I turned on the television to see what was happening. We did not have cable or anything so the reception was horrible. Some students took some paper clips and made a chain and then stuck one end in the t.v. and taped it to the wall for a make shift antenna. It actually worked. I spent the day in shock and horror, knowing that my feeling of security was shattered forever.
I had gone to Little Rock to pick up my grandmother and take her home from the hosptial. On the way back to Monticello, I saw lines of cars at every gas station so I knew something had happened. I tuned in the radio and found out the news. I like most Americans was glued to the TV for the next few days. But even in our darkest hour God is there. And He is still our refudge.
I was at home in Virginia. My brothers and I were all at home, when my dad called us and told us to turn the TV on. This was before the second plane hit the second tower. I can still remember the silence in our living room as we watched, and saw the towers come crumbling down. Then came the report of the Pentagon, and soon after, the plane brought down by valiant Americans in a field in Pennsylvania.
It was my elder brother’s birthday, and I can’t recall how we celebrated, or if we did. I had to work that evening, and the whole city seemed solemn and quiet.
I WAS WORKING AT FOOD GIANT IN NORTH CROSSETT WHEN THE MANAGER CAME INTO MARKET TELLING US ABOUT IT. WE TUNED RADIO ON THEN HEARD ANOTHER HAD HIT THE OTHER TOWER.WAS REALLY SCARED AS I HAVE A SECOND COUSIN THAT WORKS THERE BUT HER LITTLE GIRL WAS SICK SO SHE HAD TAKEN A COUPLE DAYS OFF. I CALLED HOME AND TALKED WITH MY WIFE THEN MY MOTHER.IT WAS A VERY SAD MOMENT
I’ll never forget where I was that fateful day. Portland, Oregon and I was meeting with an investor for the proposed Idaho Motor Speedway project.
This investor represented the final push for funds, and with his signature, we were ready to break ground back in Boise. It was an early morning meeting so we could catch our flight back to home base.
The lawyers went over the final details. Then as our angel investor was about to put pen to paper, a hotel employee entered our meeting room and turned on the TV.
I started to get very angry about the untimely interruption as we saw a plane fly into a building. The hotel employee apologized for her interruption, but said we were under attack in New York City.
Then we learned it was the World Trade Center the plane flew into. Then another plane hit a another building.
Needless to say, our investor (with legal team in tow) stood and said, “I’m sorry Jeb, but this changes our interest in your project.”
All I could muster is, “I understand.”
They left and we sat and watched for about an hour. For a while, I felt really sorry for myself.
Then that changed.
I started feeling sorry for our country, our soon to be altered way of life, and the innocent people who perished.
Race tracks can always be built. But lives lost are gone forever. Remember the ones we lost…
I was in Spokane Wa. at a chow hall on an Air Force base and watched as the second airplane hit. The members of the teams that I was training with found a secure phone line and starting calling the USASOC headquaters trying to find out if we were leaving from there or if we would go back to our home bases before deploying, we knew instantly that we would be going to war. It was a day we all knew would change the face of America, but never knew how it would change our lives forever. Some of the people I was training with I meet again in Afghanistan and many never made it home. God be with them and their families. Never forget the fallen. Nightstalkers Don’t Quit.