It was eight years ago today. The sky was a blue as I ever remember it being. The temperatures were cool and it was the beginning of a beautiful Fall day - full of promise.
Then the world turned upside down. We were at work listening to WPLJ, a NY top 40s FM station when word came that an airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We were all thinking ..... Cessna. Then when we found out it was a commercial airliner, we knew right away it was no accident.
We all gathered in the conference room to turn on the TV that was there. And being a member of the local Office of Emergency Management, I distinctly remember thinking at that moment, "A lot of firefighters, police and EMTs are going to die today - may God be with them." My mind's eye pictured heroes rushing into a building directly against an opposing tide of emerging victims. And although we knew it would be a horrible aftermath, we NEVER thought the towers would come crashing down. A lot of good people died that day - in horrible ways.
We were let out of work early; as like all the rest of the nation, we were in shock. And although we're not close enough to be able to see the NY skyline from our area we were able to see the plumes of smoke rising on the eastern horizon. And eerily, there were no planes in the sky anymore, which is just about unheard of around here. EXCEPT for F-15 Strike Eagles flying CAP (combat air patrol) over the metropolitan skies - I will never, ever forget looking up in the sky over my house and seeing them.
A lot has happened since then. We have grieved and we have moved on - but we will never, ever forget the violence done on our country and our countrymen that beautiful September day.
May God continue to be with and bless America.
73 de Larry W2LJ
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