9/11 5 Years Later

Posted By: NoTimeForThis | Date Posted: 9/11/2006 2:19:45 PM

Until last night, I had spent more time leading up to this 5 year anniversary with my attention on the all the noise Clinton and his gang have been making about ABC’s TV movie than I had about the reality that it has now been 5 years since the 9/11/2001 Terrorist Attacks. When that hit me I suddenly had a flash flood of emotion. Many of those feelings were familiar, having felt them every time I have reflected on the 9/11 since that day. That was when I realized that in spite of my vocal resistance to Clinton’s childish hissy fit, I had been diverted from what is most important about remembering that horrible day. That made me angry in a different way. This day is not about Bill Clinton and his sudden (and likely short-lived) interest in factual representation of recent of history. This day is about an event in American history, check that, WORLD history that has changed the United States of America more than we can yet see.

Reverberations of this day will continue to change this nation for many years much the same as and likely even more so than Pearl Harbor. The enormous importance of Pearl Harbor remains in our minds and memories because that too was a major turning point in world history. But 9/11 is not just a new and improved attack on America to take the place of previous tragedies – there is an important difference. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, the citizens of our nation looked on in horror as men and women of our Military died in an unprecedented attack on an American Military installation. On 9/11/2001, our entire nation watched in horror while over 2,700 American civilians died in the largest terrorist attack the world has known to date. This time our military was standing beside us watching a massacre on the soil they have always been prepared to defend. Looking back, I can understand a bit of what our sworn defenders must have felt that day.

At approximately 8:20am on the morning of 9/11/2001 I had just boarded a Southwest Airlines jet bound for Long Island, NY. I was a consultant at the time and was flying to a NY facility with my client. My client had not yet shown up and fearful of leaving without him I grabbed my bag and explained to the flight attendant that I needed to wait for my client and catch a later plane. She allowed me to do something that I hope will never be done again for any reason less than an emergency: she very politely escorted me to the door and wished me luck. That plane took off, but most certainly did not get anywhere near Long Island, NY before being diverted. My late arriving client and I were standing in line at the Southwest counter when CNN broke the news and replayed the events. I was able to make it back home in time to be sitting in my bedroom with my wife and holding my 2 month old daughter (my first child) when the first tower came down. I shed tears that day for the grief and sorrow and anger I felt, also for the relief that I was at home holding my daughter instead of being stranded at an airport with the rest of the passengers on the Southwest flight I abandoned. As much as anything else though, I shed tears for the helplessness I felt watching those events unfold. I worried, and still do sometimes. How do I protect my family from something like this?

Last night I was holding my 2 year old daughter who was not feeling well while watching a news program about 9/11. It made me think about my oldest, now 5 year old, who was sleeping in the room down the hall. I remembered how 5 years prior I had been sitting in the same bed, in almost the same position, holding her at 2 months old and watching those towers fall. I couldn’t help feeling a lot of the emotion all over again. I held it down to glassy eyes that returned to normal quickly enough, but it was enough to know that this day will be with me forever – and that’s not a bad thing. It’s a tragedy that has changed my perspective on some things and confirmed it on others.

I was glad to have my emotional flashback, but was also pleased that it passed quickly enough that my wife didn’t notice. Not that she would think less of me, she had her moments as well. But you know male pride… if a man tears up when Old Yeller dies and nobody sees it, his shirt sleeve isn’t damp from the tear. Right?

I hope we as a nation continue to remember that day well. To those who lost loved ones on that day: my thoughts and prayers continue to be with you. To the rest of us who watched the attacks that day on our country, our way of life and our fellow Americans: don’t forget what happened, who did it, or the fact that they will do it again at the very first opportunity we give them.