Never Forget

Eight years ago today I was sitting in my office on the 50th floor of the tallest building in Philadelphia. i'd been there for about 30 minutes when my husband called and said "did you hear? a plane hit a building in New York." We joked about it . . . pilot error, "Oh look clouds, pretty . . . . . building! Ack!" Neither of us had the details. Shortly thereafter, he called back and to report a second plane had hit a building and this time, there was no joking. We both believed the U.S. was under attack. We were not wrong.

As I switched my computer to a live feed, I watched over and over as the carnage mounted. Reports flooded all day, planes . . . the Pentagon . . . Pennsylvania . . . Terrorists. . . my mind was muddied and confused.

The entire city of Philadelphia was in a panic. Folks were streaming out of buildings, running through the streets, calling loved ones. Phone lines were jammed, no one could get a call made, streets were jammed, no one could drive anywhere. I walked out of my building some time in the afternoon, stunned. I walked to Love Park in Center City Philadelphia and I just sat there. I sat and watched shocked people walk by me, I sat and watched as folks grabbed onto eachother for support, cried or shook or held strangers on the sidewalk. We were in Philadelphia - 2 hours from New York were some dear friends worked, lived, played.

It was an apocolyptic scene to be sure, and we were not even in New York. It took me four hours to get home - 7 miles away - where I later sat hugging a pillow and watching the day play over and over on my television. I cried and cried and cried. "What could we do to help?" "How could this happen?" Thoughts of sadness and disbelief washed over me. Life would never be the same.

Others can say with more conviction, with more eloquence, what happened on that day, I can only say that since that day I have wished for brave men and women to protect us, and I have seen that call answered 1000 fold. I have met many of those brave men and women, prayed for them, laughed with them, prayed for them.

I can only say that since that day, I have hoped for more for our country. I have been both proud and disappointed.

I can only say that since that day, I have looked for ways to help. I joined my fire department, Soldiers Angels, and various and sundry other activities. I try hard to do my part - to show our enemies that we are not weak, that where one of us falls, someone else is behind him to take up the colors.

I will never forget that day. I will never forget sitting on my couch and watching as the little neighbor boy, who had turned 10 on Sept. 10, made his way to my door and said "Ms. Oddy, I will never have a happy birthday again ever because I can never forget what happened one day after my birthday." That little boy is - as of yesterday - 18. I spoke to him, and he had a quiet birthday yesterday because he hasn't forgotten that one day later nearly 3000 Americans lost their lives. He pledged at 10 not to forget, and bless him, he hasn't.

I will never forget that day, despite seeing so many around me who have. I will never forget and if I have the opportunity, I will remind you.

September 11, 2001 - may the day never be forgotten. May those who lost their lives, never be forgotten and may the reason - yes, the reason - they lost their lives, never be forgotten. The blind hatred felt by those fundamentalists in the so called "religion of Peace" to us and our way of life. Never, never forget.