A DAY WE AWOKE TO THE BEST, WORST OF HUMANITY.``Mom'' is the most beautiful word in the world. My son was at the World Trade Center the morning we were attacked. I knew he was in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of for training because he is employed with Morgan Stanley  To comply with Wikipedia's , the introduction of this article needs a complete rewrite. and had just arrived that previous weekend.
When the first plane hit, my husband notified me. I called my daughter-in-law to see where my son was. She did not know he was there either until she called his home office and learned he was in the second tower. Then all hell broke loose. When the second building was hit I thought I was going to die. My family was calling me because they all knew he was in New York. I was on the phone when I got beeped. I put the caller on hold and then came the word ``Mom.'' It changed all of our lives to appreciate what we have. - Margaret Fisher Mission Hills We were affected by this horrific act at work. We lost a friend and co- worker who was on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. Yen Betru was a wonderful man. Before he left on vacation to visit family he told me he would give me a book that would help me with my job at work. What are the odds? He got on the wrong plane - just like everybody else. - Malorie Garcia North Hollywood When I visited New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. this past Memorial Day weekend, I felt very strongly about paying my respects at the World Trade Center site. I had such a range of emotions as I stood there gazing into the empty space. I felt such anger and frustration, then a huge sadness for those that were lost, I cried for them. I cried for those left behind. I cried for the loss of the Twin Towers that seem to have taken on lives of their own. I believe there are no words to describe how I have changed. - Gaye Shipley Newbury Park While others responded with the cloth and colors of the national banner, my wife and I became anxious as two of our sons, soon to be three, prepared for war with their blood and bodies as front-line soldiers in the army. The number of flags have dwindled to a scant few, but one son, as an airborne infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division, will be in Afghanistan and the other, as a cavalry scout Cavalry Scout (or MOS 19-D) is a job title in the United States Army and originated with the United States Cavalry. The cavalry scout leads, serves, or assists as a member of scout crew, squad, section, or platoon in reconnaissance, security, and other combat operations. in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment An armored cavalry regiment (ACR) is a regiment of the United States Army or United States National Guard organized for the specific purposes of reconnaissance, surveillance, and security. , will most likely be in Kuwait. We want a country united before Iraq, which it is not now. - George W. Heath Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. The last spark of innocence I felt for us as a nation, as a people, was extinguished when the Towers fell on Sept. 11. My uncles served during World War II, a father in Korea, an ex-husband in Vietnam, now a son has orders to Afghanistan. All these men ``went away'' to serve. Will my grandson, in his future, serve to protect the Eastern Seaboard or the West Coast? My West Coastness made me feel utterly ineffective in sharing my sorrow for the victims in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington. - Patsy Baucum Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. I am from France originally and became an American citizen some years ago. As a young Frenchman, I served France during the Algerian war Algerian War or Algerian War of Independence (1954–62) War for Algerian independence from France. The movement for independence began during World War I (1914–18) and gained momentum after French promises of greater self-rule in Algeria went . I hate war, violence and senseless killing. Sept. 11 brought all the memories of the atrocities that I witnessed back to me. I am an ice sculptor by profession, but I also work on stone and wood. I wanted to do something to show my feelings. I decided to do two wood assemblage pieces to honor the memory of the Sept 11 victims and the brave men and women who helped in the search for survivors. - Jacques Tokar Northridge On Sept. 11, 2001, my life, my job and my sense of security changed. I saw the United Airlines airplane intentionally crash into the World Trade Tower. Tears filled my eyes as I called my daughter in NYC NYC abbr. New York City NYC New York City , attending Columbia Law School Columbia Law School, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan, is one of the professional schools of Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League, and one of the leading law schools in the United States. . I could not believe my eyes. I worked a 10-hour shift that day - at United Airlines. It was one of the hardest days in my 33 years with UAL UAL United Airlines (ICAO code) UAL Unified Accelerator Library (Brookhaven National Laboratory) UAL User Account Lockdown UAL User Access Layer UAL Universal Auxiliary Language UAL User Agent Layer . Upon returning home, tired and weary, I saw our two American flags flying proudly outside our home. My very patriotic Vietnam veteran This article is about veterans of the Vietnam War. For the French psychedelic musical group, see Vietnam Veterans. Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. husband had raised our flags. I cried again for America and for being so proud to be one. I am now retired and enjoying each day. - Andrea McKenzie Van Nuys This is a hard letter to write, but it's the gut-wrenching truth. When I think of Sept. 11, I no longer see the burning World Trade Center, but George W. Bush on the campaign trail making excuses for his dismal presidency. I don't see brave firefighters risking their lives, but a corrupt political elite using the distraction to benefit from America's economic meltdown. I see an administration desperately looking to wage war on other countries to keep their poll numbers high. It's sad, but that's what Sept. 11 has come to mean for me. - Gregory Urbach Reseda My husband and I have been married 3 1/2 years, and he is a technical sergeant technical sergeant n. 1. Abbr. TSgt A noncommissioned rank in the U.S. Air Force that is above staff sergeant and below master sergeant. 2. One who holds this rank. Noun 1. in the Air Force Reserves, with a total of 17 years in the military - active and reserve. He has been activated since the morning of Sept. 11, and I rarely get to see him. We don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. when he will be able to return to civilian life. But he loves his country and is proud to be of service. And I am proud of him. He is my hero. His name is Mark Anthony Canole. - Carol I. Canole Los Angeles I had just gotten home from work and turned on the morning news when I saw an airplane fly into the second tower. The TV screen said ``live.'' I realized that the fire in the first tower was caused by a similar airplane. I found out that my brother was supposed to be in the Pentagon that morning, but his meeting had been changed to a hotel in New Jersey. He had to drive across the country to get to Southern California. We have all been changed because of that day. - George Whitman Northridge CAPTION(S): drawing Drawing: (color) no caption (Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty great symbolic structure in New York harbor. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : America Statue of Liberty perhaps the most famous monument to independence. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 284] See : Freedom with U.S. flag covering lips) Patrick O'Connor/Staff Artist |
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