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We will never forget...


We will never forget…
I really hope that people, especially the American people, paused, prayed and remembered what it was like nine years ago!

Around one o’clock this morning, as I was lying in bed, watching a Fox News special on 9-11, tears just kept pouring every 5 minutes…

9-11 is a day I will never forget…

Nine years ago today, my day already started gloomy. Although it was a clear, blue sky kind of day, that morning I had to say “good-bye” to my parents since they were flying from Newark to Los Angeles. (They originally planned on flying to San Francisco instead of Los Angeles).

A little after eight-thirty in the morning, I dropped off my three kids to school and my fourth one was just seven months old. At around 8:46 in the morning, I was listening to Z-100 when I heard them say that a plane just crashed right into one of the WTC towers.

When we got home, my youngest and I turned on the television. and there it was in front of my eyes – the North Tower was on fire because of the plane crash!
Scared. Numb. Confused. Worried.

Mom and Dad (my husband’s parents) were at the WTC. Dad usually worked from home but that day, he had to attend a meeting at One WTC. Mom was working in the vicinity of WTC.

I tried to get a hold of Mom to see if she’s safe. I couldn’t get through…

Finally, Mom called and told me that they were evacuating their building. I don’t remember if she knew that Dad was at WTC. She was in danger but all she wanted to know was
    "Jen, did your parents go on the plane? Tell me they're safe..."

For whatever reason, my parents did NOT board the plane that day. I don’t want to think that G-d has a plan, because I don’t think G-d planned for thousands of people to die that day.

And then the South Tower was hit, too...
I called my husband who was at work and told him that there were two planes that crashed into WTC, and that Mom had called to let me know that they were evacuating…

I gathered my kids, got them out of school...
My husband came home.
My sister (in-law) followed.
That day, I wasn't sure of what 9-12-2001 would be like....

We didn’t hear from Mom and Dad after the first phone call…
We waited by the phone...
We prayed...
We hugged each other...
We cried....not knowing whether they were safe or not.

We didn’t hear from Mom and/or Dad for almost 12 hours...and then around 9pm Mom told us that she and Dad were together. Walked as far as they could away from Ground Zero and that they are heading back to New Jersey.

It wasn’t until almost close to eleven o’clock that night when we finally knew they were safe...unlike thousands of people that didn’t make it that day.


The vision of people jumping off WTC was something that Mom and Dad will never forget. (They were by WTC, when the first attack happened in 1993. And I just couldn't imagine....)

9-11-2001 will always be a day that I will remember.

To this day, I cannot imagine why such tragedy occured.
As I write this, I can't help my tears.
I feel bad for my friends who lost their loved ones that day.
I feel sad for a child who lost his faith that day.

I can’t believe that my children will grow up knowing that there are people – groups of people, terrorists, Islamic extremists, who are willing to die in order to kill innocent people for a religious cause.
However,
I’m fortunate that my children will grow up knowing that at time of tragedy, this country was united and dedicated!

That’s why…

I refuse to believe that we, Americans, brought this upon us.
I am offended by how some people easily blame this country.
I am saddened by how the country has been "soft"...
I am outraged by the insensitivity to those who lost loved ones at Ground Zero that day...

I can only pray …

Today, my life goes on …

And as I pray,

I am thankful for former President George W . Bush and his administration;
I am thankful for Mayor Guilliani and his administration;

And most of all...

I pray for....

The people, who sacrificed their lives,
The families who lost their loved ones,
My friends who lost their sons and daughters,
My kids' friends who lost their fathers and mothers,

Men and women in uniform who continually risk their lives so that my family can enjoy the freedom we sometimes take for granted;
The firefighters, cops, EMTs - and first responders who selflessly risk their lives to help another,

I salute all of you and you will always be in my prayers…

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Comments

  1. Veronica LeeSeptember 11, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    I will never forget that day either, Jenjen.

    I shared my thoughts of that tragic day in my post today.

    ReplyDelete
  2. RCUBEsSeptember 11, 2010 at 1:32 PM

    We were forever scarred....but we must not fear! Praying and remembering those precious lives that were lost! To a senseless act of violence! God bless you sister.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Felicia KramerSeptember 12, 2010 at 10:16 AM

    Beautiful, Jen. Just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 13, 2010 at 1:21 AM

    Honey, Beautifully written - I had to wipe the tears away so that I could read your blog. Perhaps one day I will be able to write about it and look at the pictures that I took during the year and a half that I worked there after 9/11.
    Perhaps, but not likely....
    Love you, Mom

    ReplyDelete
  5. GottaLoveMomSeptember 13, 2010 at 10:50 AM

    One day, mom, one day...I couldn't hold my tears either. But I think writing it will be a great gift for the grandchildren - and us...but in your own time..

    ReplyDelete

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