Today marks the eight year anniversary of 9/11....a day that will live in infamy.....a day that we will always remember. I am sure you remember what you were doing that day. We all have our memories of how we heard about the tragic events....where we were when we heard about the attack on our country..... and the overwhelming sadness and anger that ensued. Of course those who lived in NYC, Washington D.C. (Arlington, VA.) and PA. were a lot closer to the events than to us here in Utah....but that day, we all came together as a nation, and we all mourned as a nation. I remember exactly how Wes and I first heard about 9/11....we were on our way to the SLC International Airport. Wes had an early morning flight out to Portland, Oregon, and we were listening to the radio when they came on with the news of the first tower being hit by an airplane....we were shocked, as everyone was, yet at this time it had just happened, and the last thing anyone was saying was that it was a "terrorist" act. We were speculating on how a plane could get so off course...how the plane must have been having engine problems....like the recent plane that made a crash landing in the Hudson River not too long ago. Still on our way to the airport, the news of the 2nd tower being hit came across the radio, and the rest is history. I dropped Wes off at the airport, hating to say our goodbyes, as I now feared every plane headed out that day from any city, to any destination may be targeted.....I drove home as quickly as I could to turn on the television and try to learn more about the devasating events as they unfolded. Of course every station was covering the tragic breaking news....It was only a week after our daughter Phyllis had started attending the University of Utah....we were hearing local broadcasts telling students to stay away from the "U" that day, as it may be targeted....we live about 15 miles south of Hill Air Force Base, and it was immediately put on high alert and was listed as a possible target as they are "home" to the F-16's, and have the largest fleet of F-16 Fighter Planes in the U.S. My thoughts were filled with unbelievable sadness for the victims of the attacks....yet I was also very concerned for my own husband who was set to fly out any minute. The order to halt all flights came only seconds before his takeoff.....he lost his luggage as it was already loaded onto a plane that was to go nowhere that day. A week or so later, when he was called by the airport to pick up his luggage, the local news did a story on him...he just happened to be the one they chose to interview about his thoughts and feelings that historic morning of 9/11. I have heard a famous Medium by the name of Hollister Rand make reference to that day, by saying "our long summer of innocence was gone". How true...our simpler way of life changed drastically that day....and the family and loved ones of those lost in the events of 9/11 had their lives altered forever. Fly your flag proudly today, and may the happier memories of this past summer keep you warm during the cool evenings of fall.
