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September 11, 2001. They say you’ll never forget what you were doing that day.
The News
I remember coming down the stairs and seeing Doug watching the news. He had a look of shock and disbelief on his face and I knew something was really wrong. We stood next to each other watching the news in silence. The attack on the first tower had just happened and, depending on what news station we watched, varying reports were coming in about what was going to be the next target and who was responsible. There was confusion and chaos everywhere. Everything was happening all at once, although it felt like the world was standing still.
Keeping Close
After a little while of watching the news, Doug had to go to work. We were on the phone throughout the day with each other, trying to keep up to date with what was happening and, in a sense, trying to stay close to each other the only way we were able to.
A Child’s Innocence
On September 11, 2001, Tabitha was two years old, and I was at home teaching and taking care of her and a group of toddlers and preschoolers. I watched them laugh and play as we listened to The Wiggles together. They were so innocent and full of joy. They had no idea that the world they were growing up in was changed forever that morning. The world can be a scary place for young kids. On the morning of September 11, 2001, the world became a scary place for everyone.
Seeking Information
On the morning of the attacks, we were having our house painted and the roof replaced due to a bad hailstorm a couple of months earlier. The painters and roofers kept coming to the door asking if anything new was being reported about the attacks. Although I tried to keep the news turned off to protect the kids from the images of the morning, I updated the guys the best I could with the information Doug and my dad was giving me.
A Nation Changed
For a lot of people, the events of September 11, 2001 changed their lives in the worst ways possible. For other people, the events of that day taught them to appreciate life and love deeper than they had ever loved before.
Never Forget
Everyone has a story about where they were and what they were doing during the attacks. A family friend is able to tell his story because he was late getting to work at the Pentagon on the morning of September 11, 2001. Share your story with others. Ask people to share their stories. As we share, we remember. Remembering is important because when we start to forget what happened that day, we start to forget how people came together to help each other in a desperate time of need. And we start to forget what makes America who she is today.
Recommended Reading
This is a heartwarming tribute to the September 11 search and rescue dogs. It’s hard looking through the pictures and reading the stories without getting choked up. Click here to find this book on Amazon
This book dives into the founding of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. It also goes into detail about the first three dogs in the Foundation’s search and rescue program. These three rescue dogs were deemed unadoptable due to severe behavior issues. With patience, love, and training, they became heroes in the search of the ruble in New York City on September 11, 2001 and after the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. Click here to find this book on Amazon.