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Never Forget
We hear the phrase "Never Forget" quite a lot in reference to the events of September 11, 2001. I, for one, will never forget my reaction and what I was doing when I first heard the news. It's very likely that you won't, either. September 11, 2001 is one of those days in history that anyone alive will remember everything about it, like the JFK assassination or Pearl Harbor.
The memory is painful in differing degrees depending on how personally you were affected. But while it may be uncomforable to think back or look at images and video from that day, it is very important to do so; it is the essence of the mantra of "Never Forget." Once a year, on September 11, I believe people should recant with their friends and family the story of their personal discovery of the event and how they reacted. It helps keep the event from being simply forgotten or the memories from getting fuzzy.
So allow me to share my own story with you.
In September 2001, I was living at home with my parents while attending college classes in Worcester, MA and working at Best Buy. On the 11th, in between some morning classes, I went to a nearby McDonalds to get some breakfast to get me through the rest of the day. I remember being in line, or perhaps just looking up at the menu to make a decision on what to order. I noticed a woman working behind the counter was rather frantic. I wasn't sure what the problem was, but she must have noticed me looking at her funny. She had a radio I assume was used to play music for the employees throughout the day, but at that time, there was no music.
The woman made a panicked remark to me about a plane crash and gestured towards the radio that was supplying her with the information as it came in. I couldn't hear too well, given the surroundings, but I understood from her and the radio that a plane had crashed into a building. I don't think at that time that I knew where it was or even its significance; only that a plane had crashed into a building.
I remember that I got back in my car and tried to find a talk/news radio station. I imagine that every radio station had switched to that format by that time, or would do so soon enough. As I drove back to my college, I heard more information and learned that it was the World Trade Center. I don't remember if both planes had hit yet. I just remember that I quickly decided that I was going home.
I believe that by the time I got home, one of the towers had already collapsed. Actually, I think they were discussing it looking like it might, and that I may have gotten home just in time to witness video of it doing so.
Like most Americans, I called my family to make sure they were okay and find out if they knew of the event already.
For the next few days, all eyes were glued to the television. This wasn't sensationalistic news being reported; Americans genuinely wanted to know as much information as possible. In the coming days we would learn who was behind the attack and we would cheer as our President sent troops to bring him to justice. At work, many were talking about enlisting in the service to go fight. At school, we were discussing our reactions one at a time. Overall,as a nation, we were united for a common cause.
Seven years have passed since that time. Nobody can argue that the world itself has not changed from the events of September 11, 2001. Sadly, we are no longer united as we were back then and back to a very divided nation. But perhaps once a year, on September 11, we can put differences aside and come together to share our own personal stories of how September 11, 2001 affected us. In this way, we can honor the memory of 3,000 that lost their lives on that day. We can help each other to never forget.
What's your story? Feel free to share it in the comments below.