Day(s) I will never forget...

I'm too young to remember Pearl Harbor or the assassinations of the sixties (JFK, Martin Luther King, etc.). I barely remember the kidnappings and deaths at the Munich Olympics in the seventies. Having just missed being a member of the Baby Boom generation, the events I remember started in the 80's. Unfortunately, in the past three decades there has been plenty to remember. The Challenger explosion, Oklahoma City Bombing, a second space shuttle disaster, and what many are remembering today, the World Trade Center attack. Why do these horrible events, and many others, create the milestones in our lives even more so than the wonderful events (weddings, births of children, etc.)?

First, these disasters are totally unexpected. Many individuals expect to get married or to eventually have children. We even acknowledge the fact we won't live forever and expect/anticipate our own death and the death of others. But we never expect the type of horrific events mentioned above. Some are terrible accidents such as the shuttle explosions. These are unexpected because we have such faith in technology and the people (NASA) overseeing these events. A delayed launch, sure, but not total failure like a catastrophic explosion. Likewise, we know there are troubled individuals out there, but never expect someone being capable of taking hundreds or even thousands of lives in purposeful attacks such as Oklahoma City or the World Trade Center.

Second, the magnitude of these events is overwhelming. We hear and read about terrible events all the time. Car wrecks, drownings, murders, etc. But these milestone events are beyond comprehension and dominate the news and our conversations/thoughts for weeks, months, even years to come.

Finally, our lives are changed literally and figuratively from the day of those events forward. Sometimes this is an intangible change. Were nervous now when there is a space launch or hold our breaths when they come home. Maybe were more suspicious of others or no longer fill safe in places or ways we did before the catastrophic event. In the case of 911, the changes can be very tangible. The extra security at airports or items we can no longer bring on the plane, etc.

I was working for Southwest Airlines when 911 occurred. The first plane struck before I left for work and the second struck just before I pulled into the parking lot. I remember arriving at the building just as they were locking down headquarters. The only reason I got in the building is because I knew the security guard at the entrance I normally entered at. Throughout the rest of the day we were glued to the television sets and all business was shut down. Eventually the Pentagon was attacked and we were hoping/praying that none of our planes were hijacked. We wouldn't know for several hours, until all flights nation wide were grounded, that we hadn't lost any co-workers. I remember wondering (somewhat selfishly) if there would still be public air transportation in the near future or if I would still have a job. Not a proud moment but it was how I felt at the time. Southwest Airlines Headquarters is right next to the main runways. Normally you have flights taking off and landing literally every minute of the day. When all flights were grounded the silence was deafening. I was scared for myself, my co-workers, my family and for my country. It was a fear I had never experienced before and to be honest, wasn't sure how to handle.

I will never forget the day flights were resumed. The time of the first flight from Love Field was announced and all non-essential employees gathered outside of headquarters to watch it take off. There was a moment of prayer and as we watched the plane taxi onto the runway, a lady in the crowd started singing God Bless America. By the time she ended, everyone had joined in just as the plane lifted off. The feeling of joy and pride I felt was so strong I literally had to go down to one knee. Watching that plane take off was like watching a banner unfold that said "You Did Not Win, We Are Not Defeated!". Many were crying and just hugged one another for several moments before going back inside. I knew there would still be a lot of changes but also new that whatever the new normal was, I could handle it.

A lot has happened since 9/11. I'm now married, have children, and have a wonderful immediate and extended family. 9/11 will always be a milestone in my life and I will never forget the events of that day. But 9/11 will not define who I am or destroy my faith in God. Nor will it lessen my confidence in people, in particular Americans, to overcome the incomprehensible and thrive in the aftermath.

Have a Blessed Day