I will always remember two national occurrences that happened during my lifetime, so far. I remember my mom telling me about watching man walk on the moon, JFK's assassination. But also practicing drills of hiding under their desks in case of attack. But that was way before I was even born.
For me, I will always remember the Columbine shooting and 9-11. Where were you when you saw these happen on TV or first heard about them? The Columbine shootings were a prolific and particular school shooting that I remember because I am from Colorado. I was at BYU when it happened. A few days before I was to go back home to Arvada which is a few towns away from Columbine High School. I remember watching it on TV, after my roommates told what was going on. I was in shock that something so horrific could happen in a public school by two teenage boys, and at a school that I had taken a drama classes in and competed in Forensics at. I was saddened for days because of that incident.
But the other event, which still makes a lump in my throat, is 9-11. I vividly remember the few events that happened when I found out about the twin towers. I went to my acting improv class on Tuesday at 9am. I was the T.A. and was asked to pick up some add/drop cards at the main office upstairs. While I was in the office, the receptionists asked if I heard what happened. I didn't watch much TV back then and didn't browse the internet that early in the morning. They said, "We've been attacked. One of the twin tower in NYC have been hit." I looked at the newspaper sitting there on the counter and she said, "No, it won't be in there yet. It just happened." Honestly, at the time I didn't understand what was happening nor the impact it was already having on America.
So, I went downstairs to hear the rest of the class discussing what was happening. Our teacher asked us what we wanted to do for the rest of the class. Did we want to continue, leave early or leave right then? We all agreed we should cancel class and find out more on our own as to what was going on in NYC and elsewhere in the country. We said a prayer together and then were released.
Several of us went upstairs to the KBYU studio which had a TV in the lobby. There were already several people watching and the receptionist there told us that one tower had already been hit and then in a matter of minutes we watched it all unfold. We heard the reporters getting worried and with a tremor in their voice as they showed video of the 2nd tower being hit. I was horrified, shocked and confused. Watching it makes it so much more real. This was happening to us?!?! I couldn't believe it. I then got scared. That's where I was when I found out.
Instead of the usual scheduled devotional that day, which happened to be the first one of the school year, President Bateman spoke to us about what had happened just less than an hour before. The Marriott Center was packed full of students. The tone was nervous yet anxious yet calm. He spoke to us about the events that occurred that morning and offered a prayer of peace. It was so hopeful. I felt so much more at ease after this devotional.
About a month and half later my dad and I went to NYC. I went to assist him at a trade show. We were able to go to Ground Zero. As we came out of the subway exit we were immediately hit with the smell of smoke and sulfur. It was hard to breathe. People were still wearing masks. We looked at part of the big hole that were the towers. There was a banner on a fence that we could sign and leave cards. They were still cleaning the soot that was emblazoned onto the surrounding buildings walls. The mess reached not just the two towers but blocks and blocks of buildings. It was touching. It was hard to see. But it was good also. This may sound weird but it felt as if we were on sacred ground.
And at the time I was amazed at how it united us as a Nation of so many different nationalities, religions, races and cultures. How many people remembered their religion. How we came together in prayer in so many different venues and found common ground. I like to remember what happened. On this anniversary I like to watch documentaries and hear the stories of the individuals who lived to tell it or of those who were angels to others but did not survive. We will always remember this day and the events that took place on September 11th.
****Here is a link to Pres. Bateman's talk. Just open the PDF file on Adobe
I remember being at school the day Columbine happened. And the few fellow students who would've gone to Columbine and knew people were very emotional. It was weird to think it was so close and that I was at school too.
ReplyDeleteI remember Julianne's dad calling us that morning of 9/11 at our apartment and I think I watched the tv/news all day.
I also remember that I was supposed to go on the NY trip with dad....and since this he doesn't go anymore.....
I was at high school, in band class, when we heard about Columbine. There had been a standing joke in our clarinet section, started by our section leader Peter. A certain part of one of the songs we were learning was hard and sounded angry. Peter had been drilling it a lot in sectional rehearsals and we nicknamed that part "Death to Peter!" Of course, we'd never meant it seriously but after Columbine, it wasn't funny anymore...
ReplyDeleteOn the morning of 9/11, I was a freshman at BYU and was working at a preschool for autistic kids. I remember exactly where I was sitting in the classroom (on one of those mini chairs) helping the students with their welcome activity. I didn't get off work until after the devotional and I believe, attended most of my afternoon classes as usual (as usual as could be anyway).
I totally understand what you mean about ground zero being sacred ground. I have felt that before. My mom also went to the location where flight 93 crashed and although there's just a makeshift memorial there now, she described the same feeling. She explained that you just feel a peace there and feel as if it's a sacred place and that something special happened there. Incredible! Thanks for sharing your experience, I enjoyed reading this! I wish our nation could come together like this all the time!
ReplyDeleteI was walking up to campus at BYU behind a couple of girls who were talking about planes crashing into some buildings and I thought their story sounded so weird. And I was just devastated when I got to my office at work and found out what had happened. I remember crying for hours...a work, during class, at night with my friends...just sobbing and sobbing. What a horrible day!
ReplyDeleteI was in my college apartment. Jim was there to pick me up for my classes when my mom called and said, "turn on the TV." My roommate was in the shower. I remember knocking on the bathroom door and telling her she needed to come watch the news with us. We all sat and watched live tv as the second plane hit the second tower. We sat in confused disbelief. It just didn't seem real. When Jim drove me to school we listened to the radio announcer explain about the airplanes crashing in/near Washington, and that America was under attack. It was so surreal. I was worried that Jim would have to go fight in war. I told him if it came to that, I would marry him before he left. I wrote all about it in my journal and put newspaper clippings as well. When I go back and read that passage in my journal all of the emotions (fear, confusion, sadness, gratitude) come flooding back. I don't think I'll ever forget that day. Thanks for posting about 9-11 we should always remember, and be grateful for the country we live in. It really was fabulous the way everyone came together.
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