I’ll never forget where I was that day. I was Youth Pastor at Second Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. I arrived at the office early that morning. Our financial secretary had a TV in her office that was connected to the church’s cable system. She told me that there had been an accident and some kind of plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers.
She and I were glued to the TV, watching the coverage. We saw the second plane hit the other tower in a live shot. It was then that I knew we were under attack. As reports rolled in about the Pentagon and other possible attack locations, I knew that life here in the U.S. would never be the same … or so I thought. I am amazed at how much things have returned to the “same old, same old” of pathetic apathy and party politics.
Our home is near Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st Air Assault Division and Task Force 160, the Special Forces Aviation Group (The “Black Hawk Down” Unit … those guys were based here.) We have never forgotten the horror of that day, because we have family members constantly engaged in the ongoing battle against those whose Islamic fundamentalism would have them terrorize and dominate the world. Soon some of our guys will be leaving for their third our in a combat zone in five years. America, it seems, with it’s short-term memory fixation, wants desperately to forget the events of that day. But we don’t have such a luxury in the shadow of a major military installation.
Where were you that day? What were you doing? What were your thoughts? How do you feel about it now?
September 11, 2007 at 7:25 am
I was at Starbucks. Our 1st service for our new start was that Sunday. Not a good week to start a new church
September 11, 2007 at 8:12 am
I was at home. My oldest son, 6 yrs. old at that time, was off to school. My wife was not feeling well. I turned on the TV, habit of catching Fox News every morning, and there was the first tower billowing smoke. I, too, watched as the second tower was struck by the second plane and then watched the day’s events unfold. I believe I didn’t go into the office that day.
September 11, 2007 at 8:55 am
geoff,
i was in my office at the church in ms studying for a sermon when my cousin called me. he said, “david, have you heard about the plane hitting the twin towers in nyc?” he told me to get over to the house and look. i walked in and turned the tv on when the second plane hit. i, too, knew at that moment that it was no accident.
geoff,
i also remember where i was when elvis presley died. do you?
david
September 11, 2007 at 7:49 pm
I was just getting my first cup of coffee for the morning and settling into my chair for quiet time before going to work (bivocational pastor in Alaska at the time). It was about 6:15am when the phone rang. On the line was my friend in Montana telling me about the planes. I woke my wife who then phoned friends in NC who gave further verification.
Our little town in Alaska was dependent on air traffic for mail, supplies, etc. The drone of propeller driven float planes was a constant. When air traffic was suspended, an eerie silence settled over the community.
http://throughtheveil.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/why-did-911-happen/
September 11, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Guys,
Thanks for sharing.
Scott & Scott,
Welcome to “Along the Shore.” I hope that you’ll stop by and comment often. And don’t forget to check out a blog I share with some friends, http://sbcimpact.net .
September 12, 2007 at 10:23 am
I was sitting at my desk as a 24-year old, first year teacher – quite a sobering way to start the year.
September 13, 2007 at 6:30 am
I was servicing a hospital pharmacy in Orlando when this happened. I had gotten out of the Army earlier in the year and knew at that moment that it was a strategic attack on the U.S. It wasn’t until the second plane hit that the rest of the pharmacy staff believed me.
We stopped work for that day and I had a four hour drive ahead of me to make it back home. It was an intense time and my constant prayer was for God to protect my family as I headed home on the Turnpike.
The roads were completely empty by the time I hit the Turnpike. By that time even the toll booths were empty since the tolls had been lifted by the governor. I’m not sure how fast I was traveling, but I know that I made it to Fort Lauderdale from Orlando in about 2 hours.
September 15, 2007 at 8:27 pm
[...] Geoff at Along the Shore will never forget. [...]
September 16, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I’ve been gone since I started homeschooling. Hardly find the time to read blogs. It is my treat.
I was sitting in the hospital with my son who had been in a terrible wreck the night before. A nurse came into our room and said, “Something’s happened!” and turned on our TV (without asking) and stood at the end of his bed staring in disbelief at the screen. Our music minister was in the room making the pastoral call (our pastor didn’t lower himself to that) and we watched as the second plane hit. I’ll never forget – on the channel we were watching, the commentators were verbally dumbfounded. They were stammering, obviously confused as we were. I just new it was the beginning of WW3 on American soil. Maybe it was.
I watched the tape of the live feed from CBS the other night and those commentators (Jennings and others) seemed to have no feelings about the tragedy or the possible implications. It was weird. They were all business. I am glad that there were some news people that were human that day. I don’t know what channel we watched. Probably local Tulsa channel.
and David,
I was living in Memphis when Elvis died. My husband worked across the street from Graceland in a shopping area that used to be there.
I saw it on TV and was crying like all other silly women in America and the World (disgusting, isn’t it!). A friend of mine that had two Japanese exchange students living with her came by. When I answered the door, she asked me what was wrong and I told her. She started crying. The Japanese girls did not understand English, but they did understand “Elvis.” We tried many ways to tell them that Elvis had died, to no avail. Finally, I said, “Elvis is dead” as I sliced my neck with my finger, hung my tongue out and closed my eyes. They got it! You have never heard such wailing in Japanese nor seen such jumping and hugging. They almost scard me. I was not what you would call a “fan,” but he was loved around the world. I think I saw him last week!
September 17, 2007 at 9:43 am
I was sitting in my den sipping on my second cup of coffee, watching tv. Shock filled every fiber of my being. An all-knowing feeling gripped my heart as I knew this was the beginning of new age for Americans. I thought, how dare they! Who would do such a thing?
As news trickled in of airflights being canceled I felt a weakening in my mind. What will bring us to our knees more than a tragedy such as this? I cried for the families who lost loved ones. I’d met Rick Pitino, basketball coach for Louisville, and interviewed him once and felt his grief over the loss of his brother in the towers.
Today I sit and am grateful for the men and women in uniform who bravely fight to promote liberty and protect liberty. Today I pray for them in Iraq, Kuwait and around the world. Today I know we are far more hated for condoning our western decadent culture than the worship of our Lord. Our hypocrisy may be our enemies greatest weapon of propaganda. Today I pray for our enemies who know not what they do.
Living in a military town in Lawton, Oklahoma and having friends who are stationed in Iraq, lends a greater appreciation for the battles we wage for truth and freedom. selahV
September 17, 2007 at 1:26 pm
liz,
what part of memphis did you live in?
when elvis died i was living in the bartlett area. i was 16 years old. my friends and i were playing a sort of ballgame that we’d made up out in the street. my little bro. ran out of the house to tell us that it’d been on a news special break in. we only had four channels back then, and they were all local channels. we were all in shock. elvis was a really big deal in memphis. and, since i worked as a delivery boy for a florist, i knew my life was about to get busy, and it did.
david
September 17, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I don’t remember what the neighborhood or area of the city was called, but we lived on Randy Lane off Knight Arnold and went to Southland Baptist – pastor at the time was Dr. Charles Sullivan. It was our first house. I understand it’s not that great a neighborhood now. We loved that church and had great fellowship there. We were about 22.
September 18, 2007 at 9:01 am
I was on my honeymoon in Maui. Needless to say, with the airlines shut down we had an extended stay. American Airlines was gracious to us, paying for both our hotel and our food for the extra days.
September 18, 2007 at 6:37 pm
I was driving my daughter who was two years old in my Suburban to her daycare. I was flipping through the radio channels when I heard the radio hosts talking about a plane hitting the WTC. The male host thought it was a small civilian plane while the female host was shouting that we were under attack. I dropped my daughter off and went home to watch the news. I was watching CNN when the second plane hit.
September 20, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I was in chapel at SEBTS when I first heard of the event. We prayed the whole service.
dwmiii
September 20, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Again, folks, thanks for sharing. I know that it’s a day that all of us will always remember.
Geoff