It’s hard to write a blog on September 11 that doesn’t re-tell the events of that terrible day. It was a day that people will always remember where they were when they heard the news. For me, I just arrived to work. I was working for an accountant in his home office at the time. Every morning I’d listen to Howard Stern on the radio. This was before Sirius and XM radio. Howard Stern continued on talking on the radio that day informing his listeners what was happening. I got out of my car right before the first plane hit. That plane was American Airlines Flight 11. It was 8:46 am. On that flight were 11 crew members, 76 passengers and 5 hijackers. My husband called me to go knock on the house door and turn on the TV.

That first initial reaction to one plane hitting the tower didn’t spark complete fear it was at 9:03 when United Airlines Flight 175 hit the second tower. With a crew of 9, 51 passengers and 5 hijackers, it was that plane that sent shivers down your spine. It was that plane that scared the hell out of you and made you fearful for your life and safety in America. I live in New York, this was in NYC, not even 40 minutes away. Half of my family lived in NYC, including my sister. All you could do was stand there with mouth wide open watching those towers burn. Within an hour and 42 minutes both towers collapsed

American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon building at 9:37am carrying 6 crew members, 53 passengers and 5 hijackers. United Airlines Flight 93, the courageous people on this flight that fought the hijackers, unfortunately still crashed in a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03. This plane carrying 7 crew, 33 passengers and 4 hijackers.

Every time September 11th comes, all I can think about was standing in that living room watching the news and watching those towers burn. I remember the fear and wanting to leave, get my daughter from daycare and go home, but they wouldn’t let me leave without docking my pay. That day, 3,000 people were killed over 6,000 were injured. It is something to remember every year and it should be remembered. It was the day Americans grieved together, held hands with strangers and heroes died.