Reflecting back on 9/11 ten years ago, I realize I'm a lucky lady! My co-worker, boss and I were scheduled for a morning meeting in the Pentagon in the area where the plane hit. If I remember correctly, it was around a 9 a.m. meeting. For some reason, our boss cancelled the meeting the day before because he was annoyed at the person we were supposed to meet with. I don't remember what upset him right now, but thank goodness, he was! (Someone was watching out for us!)
My co-worker, Diana and I were sitting in our office on that unforgettable day and had just switched off the tiny television that we usually turned on for about an hour each morning to catch all the news of the day as we were checking emails. I got a quick email from Sara who was a sophomore at West Point at the time that said, "a plane just hit the World Trade Center! Gotta run to class...talk to you later..."
Wow! We quickly turned on the TV again and actually saw the second plane fly into the second Tower...unbelieveable! And, shortly after that, the Pentagon got hit! Our office was on the flight path for Dulles International Airport and we kept looking at the planes coming in and thinking, "Who's going to crash next?" But, before long...all the planes were gone! The FAA had instructed them all to land. Then, we saw the Towers fall.
No one could work that day. It was difficult taking it all in. Especially after realizing another plane had crashed in Pennsylvania! Four planes, the World Trade Center and all those souls gone!
I think it was a few days later, we drove by the Pentagon and I had a sickening feeling in my stomach when I saw the gaping hole and charred remains on the side of the building where the plane had entered. I think I was angry more than anything that someone so full of hatred against Americans would do this!
I wished I was on active duty at that moment instead of being retired! I had already been retired 7 years and was too "old" to be taken back! :(
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