9/11 - Ten Years and 343 Memories

It only seems like yesterday that this horrifying attack occurred.  I remember the morning quite well.  I just started a new job at a location on the Western Slope of Colorado and I was due at work at 7:00am Mountain time - which was 9:00am Eastern time.  I had walked into the operation office and grabbed my requisite morning cup of coffee.  The office administrator and several others were huddled around a radio listening so I felt compelled to see what funny thing was on the radio.  What I heard was unreal.  I made some comment referencing the Orson Wells "War of the Worlds" radio show from long ago and the terror it had caused when there really was no alien invasion at all.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  The event that was unfolding was as real as the hot cup of coffee in my hands.  The rest of that day was rather surreal.


When I was able to see some television coverage it was even more striking.  Seeing the people running away from the towers, seeing the smoke rising from the first tower, seeing the second airplane hit the second tower, seeing the Men and Women of FDNY - New York's Finest ...running... TOWARDS the danger that all the others were running away from.

You see, I have been in those situations where I was with a group of men running into the danger while others were running away.  On that day I understood, just as I still understand to this day, the thoughts and fears that were running through their minds.  I too was a Firefighter - eight years of service as a Firefighter/EMT.  I remember so very well getting home that evening and seeing the never ending loop of the towers falling.  All the while all I could think about were those Firefighters of FDNY who were just doing what they do.  Selflessly serving others. Holding up their end of the deal when they swore to "Protect and Serve".

I remember simply being overwhelmed by the images that I saw and being moved to tears for people I didn't know and would not ever have the pleasure of knowing.  For some strange reason, I suppose out of not knowing what to do, I found myself out in the driveway taping up a small American flag in the back window of my truck.  I remember walking around to the tailgate and looking at the flag I had just installed.  I remember looking back down at my shoes and seeing the Firefighter license plate that I so proudly carried on my bumper.  I remember thinking about those 343 Brothers and Sisters, that I did not know, streaming up the stairs in those twin towers - just doing their job, just doing what they loved, just selflessly serving the people they vowed to Protect and Serve.

9/11/2001...You are a day that I will never forget. 

Although I am no longer a Firefighter/EMT I still find myself saying a little prayer every time I see one of those big beautiful engines rolling with the chrome gleaming, the lights flashing and sizzling with glorious intensity, and the wail of the sirens that are calling out... "Hang on, help is on the way!"

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:40

May the Lord bless and keep our Firefighters every time they answer the call of duty in their various communities across this great nation.

Thanks for what you do out there on the line!

Blessings...