I remember, like most other folks, exactly where I was when I caught the first mention on the car radio of what was going on in downtown New York City. At first, it just sounded like a small plane that had maybe gotten into trouble and somehow hit the World Trade Center. But as the minutes clicked by and the uncertainty in the voices of the news reporters got greater, I got the feeling that this was something altogether different. I stopped in Augusta at a Walmart and headed for the electronics department. There were people already crowded around the TVs. Nobody was saying much. And then the second airliner hit. People physically jumped, and gasped. Shock, then anger set in. It was a natural reaction because you had a feeling of complete helplessness. It felt like some dark presence had overtaken and descended on everything. All that day, everywhere I went, people were asking if you had heard this or that. Because there was no verifiable information, you were left to imagine the worst. I had a niece in New York City, so I tried to call. There was actually a recording saying all phone service was down. It was a Tuesday, a beautiful cool Fall Day. But nothing else seemed normal or made any sense. The Pentagon was on fire and the President was in the 747 airborne command center and told not to return to Washington until the situation was safe. The Vice President and other senior members of the government had been evacuated to secret locations. Nobody knew if there would be more attacks, and nobody could say what we should do next.
In the days that followed September 11, 2001, enlistments in the armed services increased dramatically. Fear that turned to hate, turned to rage and the country was consumed with the urgency to strike back. But even though everyone suspected terrorism, the question was who exactly did this to America and why? Who hated our country that much? Those questions were probably the most confusing part of the whole experience. Sadly, I do not know if we are any closer to the answers today. Most Americans view this country as a place of fairness, compassion, freedom, and respect. We certainly have our critics, but when trouble comes, we are always the first to rush to help. We are the country that accepts the obligation to feed, clothe, and care for the people in places that won’t or can’t do it for themselves. We never asked for the title of world’s policeman, or the world’s farmer or the shining light of liberty. But we never shied away from it.
Later on that day, 22 years ago, I remember watching the news as nations from around the world expressed their support for the United States of America. I guess I was a bit cynical about the sincerity of some of them, but I remember watching as the Band of the Buckingham Palace Home Guard played the Star-Spangled Banner in front of the Palace in London. It had been a long, terrible day, and I deeply appreciated that tribute. I also appreciated the fact that at the end of that day I could get back to my family and my home in quiet, peaceful little Swainsboro, Georgia.
It is hard to believe that so much time has passed since this attack on our country took place. Children have been born and become adults with no personal knowledge of that time. It is not pleasant, but as more time goes by it is no less important that we are unfailing in our observance of the devotion, the sacrifice and the determination that was exemplified on that day. It is part of our country’s story. May God Bless those souls lost on 9/11/2001 and all of the brave men and women who have defended this good and great country throughout its history. May we never forget.
