Similar to where one might have been when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, or when JFK was shot, or when the Challenger blew up after takeoff, I vividly recall the events of 9/11. I was in Chicago for a trade association convention. A coworker and I had finished cobbling together our booth and setting out the various wares and tares. Shortly after 9am, word was spreading that a plane had hit one of the Trade Center Towers in New York City. A few minutes later people were saying that a 2nd plane had hit the other Trade Center Tower. My coworker went back to the hotel to get coffee and treats for our booth. The doors to the convention center opened at 10am. I expected hoards of people. Yet, there was hardly no one milling about. And the few folks walking by were not interested in our product line but were instead asking, “Have you seen the news on TV?” Then came word that two other planes were involved in “the attack”. This was the first time that I’d heard that term. It was obvious that our nation was under attack as a third plane had struck the Pentagon and a fourth plane had crashed in PA.
A decision had been made to close the convention hall by 11am. Other vendors began to pack up their wares and tares while security people were asking people to leave the convention hall. I met up with my coworker who said that the convention hall is now under a lock-down order and that the convention was being cancelled. Every television in the hotel lobby was turned to one of the news networks and I got my first glimpse of the attack. I was stunned. It was shocking that planes would intentionally be used as ‘weapons of war’ and flown directly into buildings. The plume of dust, smoke and debris was massive over New York City. It was clear that the death toll was likely to be in the thousands, if not tens of thousands of people.
Around noon every plane flying anywhere within the United States was ordered to immediately land at the nearest airport. My coworker suggested that I try to rent a car to get out of Chicago as soon as possible. I called a car rental agency. They never picked up the phone. It was apparent that getting from Chicago to Minneapolis was going to be a challenge. On a whim I called a truck rental agency. Yes, they had a truck available for rent. I collected my personal belongings, said goodbye to my coworker who had family in the Chicago area and planned to take some vacation days to ‘play it by ear’ on getting back home to Springfield MO. People were stranded in airports for days until the FAA began allowing commercial airlines to resume flying.
For the next week – if not longer, conversations revolved around the attack. There was a palpable sense of national unity. The political divide of conservatives and liberals seemed almost negligent. There was a stronger sense of American pride amongst the populace. And it didn’t take long to determine who was responsible for this attack. President Bush led a rally cry as when he made the following speech at the site of the World Trade Center:
I want you all to know that America today is on bended knees in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. This nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.
There’s a particular image from that day – that of ‘the falling man.’
I find this image to be such a disturbing reality for what took place that day. I can’t imagine the fear that as he was falling, there was the instinctual realization that he had just seconds to live. Not only that, but preceding his jump, he had to decide whether to burn or jump. He knew knew he was going to die. These same realizations were no doubt made by scores of people.
I hope I never forget this day. Perhaps it’s inevitable considering that recent college graduates have no first-hand knowledge of these events. The same could be said about me as I was nine when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. All I remember from that time was how I couldn’t watch my favorite TV programs. There would be an announcement, “We interrupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you this important message.”
May we never forget that there are those willing to attack this nation and the freedoms for which it stands. I am grateful for those who’ve taken the oath to defend this nation throughout its history. My father served in the Marines between 1946-1948. I served in the Coast Guard from 1974-1978. My son served in the Marines from 2001-2006. And my grandson will graduate from Marine Corps boot camp this month (Sept 2026). May he carry well the values which define this nation as he defends the Constitution and the laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
May we never forget. Semper Fi. Semper Paratus.
A remembrance well stated. Good luck to your grandson.
Thank you. I’ve every confidence that our grandson will do well. He certainly is motivated … and looks to be in (I suppose the Marine Corps would call it) ‘fighting shape’ – lean, fit and trim.