Posted on 09/11/2010 3:38:07 AM PDT by davidosborne
Where were you nine years ago today?
An interesting story in itself........ I had been a freeper long before that.. my first screen name was "www.DavidOsborne.net" but I guess that was too "vain" for Jim and my account kept getting deleted.. I tried several other screen names and eventually settled on this one just before deploying to Bosnia. I ETS'd from Active Duty, Fort Bragg, NC in Sept 2000, was on terminal leave when I was hired at the the Leon County Sheriff's on August 4th, 2000. Ironicly, my first deployment orders as a Reservist was dated AUGUST 4th, 2001. I tell this to anyone who tells me that God is NOT in control. This is only ONE example of many that reminds me that God WILL direct our path if only WE are willing. Amen?
I think that was when I really found and explored FR, that day. After the first day, i pretty much stopped watching TV for a while, but did listen to the guys on “The Ticket” in Dallas. If anyone was there during that time, you’ll understand why.
Amazing! I was the paramedic at Camp Oden, just down Rt. New Jersey.
I was in Los Angeles with my husband on a business trip...
...With the 3 hr time difference we were unaware....until I turned on the computer & dialed in Free Republic and read ALL PLANES GROUNDED!
I told my husband & he thought it must be a mistake or a joke....
We turned on the TV.
...after a few minutes of watching & disbelieving.....but knowing it was true...the horror was unbearable.
We turned off the TV and cried and prayed.
The next Sunday, at church, our little sanctuary was packed out!!!---mostly young congregation & they were numb & wanting answers...
..A few days later we left for home just because we wanted to be home.
..of course we couldn't fly (not sure I would if I could have)...and rented a car and drove home to Florida.
Flags everywhere all across the nation....from tall buildings to modest homes, apartments, bridges.....everywhere.
People were somber, stricken...
We stopped in New Orleans for lunch.....a very large restaurant across the street from the huge convention center...
The restaurant was totally deserted, although they served us....it was like a ghost town.
Everywhere we went was like a ghost town that week as we drove.
When we arrived at the airport to turn in our car they wouldn't let us in the area until they checked the undercarriage of the car (for bombs, I guess).....chilling
Tina and I were eating breakfast with the TV on....saw the report of the 1st “accident” of a crash and watched the second happen like so many people....ran into the other room and taped everything for the next two days....
I and my family were waiting by the phone to learn word on my only son’s status - he was in Tower II ....
My son was injured but survived...
...we believe his son (my grandson) born just 11 months later - is destined to do something important for mankind...
The terrorists didn't have much time to celebrate their victory over the Infidels...
Thanks to Pres. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and all the rest who said Thou Shall Not Pass.
Having coffee at a friend’s house and saw the second plane hit the tower...I thought it was an instant replay until they said something like “It’s the other tower!”
Somehow, I knew this day would be a marker in my life. Things would never quite be the same. The fight is now on our soil, from within. The past couple of years these feelings have been justly amplified.
I know one thing, I’ll never forget 9 /11, nor will I forget that freedom isn’t free and what it means to be an American!
That is the purpose of this thread it does help to remeber and never forget when we reflect on that day each year for the rest of our lives. Our life’s experiences over the past nine years give us a renewed appreciation for the significance of that dey. We will NEVER forget !
Thanks to ALL my fellow FReepers for sharing your story!
I just ran into a young female private (E-2) who probably just graduated basic training because she had no unit patch on her left shoulder. She was with her parents so I stopped them and introduced myself. I cary extra patches in a bag in my patrol car so I grabbed a right shoulder U.S. flag that I had worn in Iraq last year. I told this young private and her parents who I was and I ripped her “new” patch off her right shoulder and replaced it with my “slightly used” patch. I will keep her “new” patch as a reminder that I need to pass the torch to the younger soldiers out there. I have no idea where this soldier is going today, but I hope she has the opportunity to explain to other privates how she ended up with a “used” American Flag patch. :)
FReegards,
David
Thanks for the video. (My heart is sinking all over again.)
NEVER FORGET!
Thank you for your service, David.
I was at work, my friends wife called and said a plane had hit the WTC, we figured a small plane. He talked to her a bit later and clarified it, by then the whole building was talking about it, called the wife and got my own reports.
I guess I was one of the few in the whole country that didn’t see any coverage until I got off of work at 5pm.
FLY YOUR FLAGS
There was a segment done on one of the news magazine shows (don’t remember which one) about the planes coming in over the Atlantic that were detoured to Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11 and how the local town folks all came together to care for the passengers, making food, opening up their homes, etc., until they were allowed to leave several days later. The scenes showing the jets lined up along the runway were amazing (I’m thinking there were 40-50+?...don’t remember for sure.) It was a beautiful testament to the honor and decency of a great people - the Newfoundlanders (of which I’m proud to say I am one on my mother’s side) - and the way they opened up - not just their homes, churches and community centers, but especially their hearts in love and support for all affected by what happened that day.
I was at home that day, and watched the second plane hit while watching the news of the first plane hitting the tower.
I felt the world change that day.
I pray I never forget.
“never forget 9 /11”
But, it appears we did forget. We’ve allowed our nation to be high-jacked by a socialist/marxist regime. We have a POTUS who caters to Islamists (Ramadan dinners) and argues for a mosque at ground zero. We’ve elected a president who’s actual citizenship is in question. The CIC is handcuffing our troops fighting the war on terror, ie don’t shoot until you’re shot at, advise detainees of their miranda rights etc.
I was at work in Ohio, a beautiful blue sky overhead. A boss came up to inform me a plane had struck the WTC. I resumed working only to then be told that a plane had struck the second tower. My initial thoughts were that this can’t be happening and that it sounded like a really bad “B” movie. Only then did I notice the lack of contrails in the sky and no plane traffic whatsover.
A short while later, I saw the two F-16s screaming across the sky headed east in pursuit. We went back to the shop early, and took a long lunch while watching the news.
When I got home, I hugged my family. I remember the fear I had for the futures of our 3 young children.
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