The events of 9-11 changed the way that many Americans view the world and the dangers that we must prepare for. I certainly will never forget that day five years ago. I was expecting my first child and I was at work, listening to the radio. It was a morning talk show full of jokes and harmless pranks. When the other ladies and I first heard the female announcer, Sherry, begin to describe the events unfolding on the television set in front of her, we thought it was another joke. Until she said that she was serious. She started to cry on the air. We went to CNN to verify the news. The site had crashed, and really that was all the verification that we needed.
I remember sitting in my chair listening to the events unfolding throughout the morning. With the first plane, we thought it might be an accident, but as the events unfolded, there was no doubt in my mind that we were under attack. I called my husband, who thought I was somewhat crazy, until he began to watch the events on the news. I called my dad at work, and we discussed the events of the day. I knew that it would change the way many people would view the world around them.
Before 9-11, I believed in being prepared to handle any emergency situation that I faced. The women I worked with knew that, and so I wasn’t surprised when they came to me, and began asking questions about storing food and being prepared. I think that several people realized through watching the events of 9-11, the importance of being prepared. It was hard to watch so many families torn apart as people died in the wreckage of what happened that day. I think it opened many people’s eyes to the uncertainty that comes with life.
Since then I believe many people have moved forward with a different outlook on life. Some people received training in search and rescue and began volunteering to help others. Other people gathered their families’ closer together. Others planned for the needs of their families. Certainly we have mourned for the families who lost a loved one. We all should honor the memory of those individuals, and their families who have had to continue on without them.
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