story8875.xml

story8875.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-12-20

I was at work talking to one of my co-workers about my Flight to florida on 09-12-02 for my father's memorial service. When someone came in and stated that the a plane
just crashed in the WTC. Being myself from NY(born and raised there for 33 years) and having just moved to Cleveland, I still consider NY my home. Therefore when she stated what happened I went on break and watched the next plane hit from the television monitor posted outside by the Halle Building. I was stunned!. I could not move because It brought back memories from the bomb that hit in 93 as I was in the WTC at the time on a lunch break, and I thought that it would never happen again. When the towers fell I fell apart, all my memories of the times I spent there during my lunch and the hustle and bustle of the area came flooding back. I was concerned that maybe some people I knew that worked there might have been killed ( I was lucky as no one personal to me was killed or injured.)When it was announced that this was a terrorist attack my anger took over. I was furious and also scared of what else could happen. At that point the only thing I wanted was to go home and be with my family. I sat in front of the news that day for hours watching the coverage and crying for all those that were lost. Then my anger returned again and my NY spirit of never giving up or giving In ,took over and due to the fact that the next day was supposed to be my fathers's memorial service and all flights were cancelled. Me and all my brothers and sisters that were supposed to fly to florida from (Cleveland, Texas,and Tennessee) Decided we would find a way to get there for one reason to honor my Father a veteran who fought for freedom(something the terrorist were trying to make us feel unsure of ) and also as a signal that no one enemy can ever keep us down or hiding as in so many other countries. We all made it by renting a car and driving, some of us for 24-36 hours straight, my brother in Tennesee for a business meeting could not get a rental car so he rented himself a charter bus paying the price of a full bus to get him back to Florida in time. We all made it safe and in one piece and the memorial service that we
did not only became that of one for my father but those who perished in The WTC of a country that my father was very proud to serve to ensure our freedom!