Remembering 9/11

 

I Remember

 

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.  "We will never forget" was the constant refrain.  A generation has been born since that day.  They have nothing to remember, only stories told them.  

 

 

I've written about 9/11 many times.  On the 10th anniversary I wrote this: "It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the terrorist attacks. Growing up, I remember hearing people say, "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that JFK was shot" and I didn't understand. Unfortunately, now I do. The flood of emotions will not be forgotten."

 

 

I was working at Amgen at the time and was on my way to work when I first heard the news. Both Towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon. What in the world was going on? What an eerie feeling, so sobering and frightening. I looked into the shocked faces of my co-workers and knew that's what I looked like as well. I don't remember getting any work done that day. Just staring at the images on my computer, reading over and over reports of the attacks.

 

 

We in California were blessed that none of the attacks occurred in our state, but the impact was still felt. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.

 

 

I remember the first time we flew after 9/11. We flew from the Burbank airport and I was a nervous wreck. The sight of guardsmen did not give me comfort, it just reminded me of all that was lost on the day.

 

While I remember, I also know where my hope is found.  Governments and armies can't give me hope or peace, but there is a Rock that I can stand on.  Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

 

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

Never Forget

 

Do Something

It was a Tuesday morning, just like this morning.  I got in my car for the 30 minute drive to work and turned on the radio hoping to catch a traffic report.  What I heard instead struck terror.  Because of the three hour time difference, by the time I was tuning in both Twin Towers and the Pentagon had already been hit.  We would later learn that a co-worker was on the plane that hit the Pentagon.

The stories of heroism that came from that day are remarkable.  In spite of an enemy trying to tear us down, Americans rose up to fight.  First responders marched into those towers and headed up, while others were fleeing.

One of the most remarkable stories came from United Airlines flight 93.  It was the fourth plane that was hijacked.  This time the passengers had enough time to fight back.  Their attack caused the plane to go down in an empty field in Pennsylvania, 20 minutes flight time from Washington. The plane still went down and all onboard were killed, but those passengers kept it from hitting any national landmarks or buildings.

Tom Burnett was one of the passengers on flight 93.  He made four phone calls to his wife - you can read the full transcript here.  Three times Tom told his wife, "we have to do something."  The last part of their final conversation went like this:

Tom: Deena! If they’re going to crash this plane into the ground, we’re going to have do something!
Deena: What about the authorities?
Tom: We can’t wait for the authorities. I don’t know what they could do anyway.
It’s up to us. I think we can do it.
Deena: What do you want me to do?
Tom: Pray, Deena, just pray.
Deena: (after a long pause) I love you.
Tom: Don’t worry, we’re going to do something.
He hung up

There's an old story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.

"Do Something" by Matthew West

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”

We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

We don't have to look far to see a need.  I know it can be scary to step out of our comfort zone to do something.  The outcome may not be what we hope for, but for today will you at least try to do something?

Remembering 9/11

Repost from 9/11/08:
This was one of the most sobering days of my life. Since I was not alive during World War II, this was the first attack on American soil in my lifetime - and what an attack it was. I was working at Amgen at the time and was on my way to work when I first heard the news. Both Towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon. What in the world was going on? What an eerie feeling, so sobering and frightening.

We in California were blessed that none of the attacks occurred in our state, but the impact was still felt. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She, of course, was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.

Dora took the earlier flight for one reason - to be with her family. How that simple, sincere decision changed the life of her family! There was no way Dora could have known what the terrorists planned for that morning.

I went for a run this morning and reflected.  Our world has never been the same.  The beautiful patriotic song "America the Beautiful" floated through my mind.  I only knew the words to the first verse and came home to find many more.  I love our country and my heart breaks over her current condition.  If we ever have a hope of making America great again, we must humble ourselves and pray.

America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!

Heroes ~ Average People Who Do Something

I think it is very fitting that in Sacramento today there is a parade to honor three young American men.  College student Anthony Sadler, Oregon National Guard specialist Alek Skarlatos and U.S. Airman Spencer Stone foiled an attack on a train in Europe three weeks ago today.

From left, French President Francois Hollande, Alek Skarlatos, U.S. Ambassador to France Jane D. Hartley, Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article32268423.html#storylink=cpy

They were just elementary school students 14 years ago, but today they are heroes.  "I don't think I'm any different than the average American. When people are faced with this situation, I feel like it is a choice. Like, you think, 'Should I do something or should I go hide?' And I just want everybody to know that they should do something," Anthony Sadler said.

I'm thankful today for the many brave first responders who willingly walked into the face of danger that Tuesday morning and for our service men and women through the ages.

In Remembrance of 9/11

Twelve years have come and gone since that horrible Tuesday morning.  Long lines in security, removing our shoes and going through full body scanners are common place in this post 9/11 era.

I was on my way to work when I heard the news.  Both towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon.  We gathered in small groups, in utter shock as we learned of the loss of life, saw photos, and wondered when the next attack might occur.

God bless the first responders and our men and women serving in the military!

September 11 ~ Hero

On this eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks, it's appropriate that today's Photo A Day challenge is "Hero."  The first heroes who come to mind are the NYC Firefighters.  They kept going up the stairs, while others were escaping down.  True heroes.  Our military men and women who have been fighting since.  True heroes.

I didn't personally know any of those men and women.  But I've had plenty of heroes in my life.  I wrote about a conversation with Rod regarding heroes (you can read it here.)  Such wisdom he had when he told me:

Kathy, that's why you have to be careful who you make your heroes. You can't choose athletes as heroes. They might do great things on the field, but that doesn't make them great people. True heroes are people of God.

Webster defines hero as:

1)  a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability

b : an illustrious warrior

c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities

d : one who shows great courage

2) a : the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work

b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement

 
I've been thinking about heroes all day.  I think a lot of times we get hung up on that first definition.  Larger than life, endowed with great strength.  Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap buildings in a single bound.  Those kind of heroes only exist in novels or movies or our imaginations.

There are many unsung heroes that go through life showing great courage.  Not the dragon slaying kind of courage, but courage to continue on while facing losses, illness, rejection, sorrow, and fear.  People who put on a cap that says, "Another Bad Hair Day" with fake hair, when all theirs has fallen out.

Heroes.  Sometimes you have to search for them because they're busy going forward in life.  But there are plenty of them if you know where to look.

Remembering 9/11 ~ 10 Years Later

It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the terrorist attacks. Growing up, I remember hearing people say, "I remember exactly where I was when I heard that JFK was shot" and I didn't understand. Unfortunately, now I do. The flood of emotions will not be forgotten.


I was working at Amgen at the time and was on my way to work when I first heard the news. Both Towers had been hit, along with the Pentagon. What in the world was going on? What an eerie feeling, so sobering and frightening. I looked into the shocked faces of my co-workers and knew that's what I looked like as well. I don't remember getting any work done that day. Just staring at the images on my computer, reading over and over reports of the attacks.


We in California were blessed that none of the attacks occurred in our state, but the impact was still felt. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.


I remember the first time we flew after 9/11. We flew from the Burbank airport and I was a nervous wreck. The sight of guardsmen did not give me comfort, it just reminded me of all that was lost on the day.


I'm sure there will be more eloquent posts on other blogs, because this is a tough one. My nature is to look for the good, the joyous, write encouraging things. But some days we just need to pause and remember the pain and pray for those who are hurting.

Thoughts on Osama bin Laden and 9/11

I've had a little over a day to think about what took place on Sunday in Pakistan. More than anything, the death of Osama bin Laden brought back what occurred on September 11, 2001. I heard military personnel on the radio yesterday - servicemen and women who have fought, who have lost friends and comrades. I heard a man who worked at Ground Zero after the attacks - he made me cry.

I still remember getting in my car that Tuesday morning and heading to work at Amgen. Both towers had already been hit at that time, along with the Pentagon. Living so close to Los Angeles, we wondered if a plane was also headed our way.


Very little work got done that morning. We just kept looking at each other in shock, then returning to our computers to read the latest updates and look at the latest horrifying pictures. As the day progressed, word spread that an Amgen Clinical Development team had been in Washington, D.C. The team was there for meetings with the FDA regarding approval for a new drug. Later in the day, team members checked in, reporting they were okay, but stranded in D.C. for the time being. They had been scheduled for a Tuesday afternoon flight. Then we got word that Dora Menchaca, the team leader, had changed her flight to Tuesday morning. She was on American flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.

I remember the first time Les and I flew after 9/11. It was about six weeks later. I was not real comfortable with the idea, but looking back it was probably the safest time to fly. I turned to the book of Psalms and let God's word bring comfort.

Nearly a decade later, the mastermind of the attacks has now been captured, killed, and buried at sea. Does that mean the war against terrorism is over? Certainly not. He was one of many who would love to destroy America.

The question I began asking myself was "Does the death of Osama bin Laden change anything for me personally?" I have great respect and admiration for our military personnel. Navy SEALS fascinate me. But my peace of mind and safety does not lie within their control. My answer is this:

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
by Edward Mote, 1797-1874

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.