story4541.xml

story4541.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I received a frantic phone call from a friend telling me to get to a TV immediately. She was nearly hysterical and I couldn't really understand what she was saying. I just knew whatever it was, it was very, very bad. I can remember feeling so frightened and shaking so badly I could hardly turn the TV on. What I saw is beyond my ability to describe. The total disbelief, the inability to comprehend how this could be happening in our country, the soul felt compassion for the innocent victims and their families....the horror of the barbarian attack and yes, the fear that that was only the begining of a nation wide attack and the selfish wondering when they would reach us. I felt numb and can remember all of us just sort of wandering around saying "oh God, oh God." There were no other words. I lived in NYC for 5 years and went up the WTC many times, I took all my out of town visitors up to the Windows on the World resturant. I've closed my eyes and tried to imagine the last image so many people had of a huge airliner coming straight at them and it is such a horrific picture I can't bear it. What happened on Sept.11th was pure evil. It must be eradicated from the face of this earth if any of us the world over are to ever feel safe again. One of the military men killed at the Pentagon graduated from my high school 2 years ahead of me. I did not know him, but I believe that everyone in this country was touched personally by some loss, no matter how far removed. My heart breaks for the families of the victims and the grief that today must be flooding back 100 fold, but to them I say "be proud." You're loved one died in a war for this country and we will all be forever grateful. And we will NEVER forget their sacrifice. Linda Pedersen