story20377.xml

story20377.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2006-09-10

We had just moved to wisconsin the week before the world trade center. Prior to that we had lived in North Carolina I started orientation that day at my new job at 0900. Shortly after ariving at the long term care facility I was to become Director of, We noticed staff as well as residents were gathered around the television sets. People were talking. The residents especially the men were fixated on the televison set. No one moved the men began an informal support type network. Many of these men had been in the service. They began to share their stories of survival and military service. One talked about how Pearl Harbor had changed his life. He told me that this act of terror would change all our lives from that day forward. Our facility was transformed residents who usually stay too themselves were out in common areas watching television. The Women stated a pray group for those still missing. One of the woman had a grandson who worked at the world trade center. It was a full day before she found out he was okay. I learned alot about the elderly that day. Never before had realized these men who are now old and needing so much care were hero's. My respect for them greatly expanded. I still work in long term just not at the same place. Each year our residents have a memorial to that day. They have planned the events on how we will celebrate tomarrow. We are presenting the flag and having a pray sesson for those who survived and those lost. We are all wearing red white and blue tomarrow the newspaper is coming to record our memorial. The men who live at our home in the military will be honored. I think the biggest change in me after 9/11 is that I have a new appreciation for the policy, fire fighter and the brave men who serve our country. Thank god for America