This family will never forget...
Prayers for our nation and the lost lifted....
>>>>>>>>>That Day
I was at work in Manhattan....about two miles north of ground zero....
A colleague walked into the office and stated he heard a loud boom....I immediately went to a BLOG I frequent...
Within minutes it was clear what had just happened....although many were saying an accident, I knew it wasn’t....
Work stopped, the city closed down....we went to the street to see what we could do....
We watched in horror as those from downtown made their way uptown....it was so quiet...just sobs and the sounds of occasional fighter jets and helicopters passing by overhead....
I tried to comfort those in need, but it was tough....I knew the world had changed....and our full engagement in the silent war would soon follow....
I could not call home....the phones were always busy....I could not leave Manhattan....mass transit was shut down....so I walked and watched as the day unfolded....
Late in the afternoon I walked to Penn Station....passing the National Guard....the NYPD....and the FDNY as they raced downtown through the empty streets....the trains were still not rolling...so I walked some more....
Thousands were gathered and looking down 6th avenue....where on a normal day we could see the towers....all we saw was smoke....and for the first time...the horrid smell and taste of the devastation reached us. That smell remained in the streets for weeks to come....it is something that I will never forget....whenever I smell burning plastic it reminds me of that moment....
In the early evening I returned to Penn Station....and to my surprise a train headed for the Island was announced even though the station was officially still closed....the train was crowded...many of my fellow commuters had blood and ash painted on them....again....the deathly silence was only overcome by crying.....which peaked when we finally made our way out of the tunnels into Queens where the large cloud over lower Manhattan made it so obviously apparent the depth of the destruction.....
When reaching Babylon I immediately looked for a church....they all were open.....I knelt and prayed for the victims and our country....and I cried for the first time....not only for the moment but also for understanding what was to come....
Although years have passed I am still deeply moved by what transpired....it will be with me to my last breath....I certainly will never forget.... nor will my family... I will make sure of such...
Very moving and well written account of an horrific experience. Thank you.