Something To Remember

This week my travels took me to Syracuse and then finally a short flight to JFK and Pomona, New York. Fighting the traffic and hustle and bustle of heavily populated areas reminded me of just how fortunate we are to live a relatively rural existence.

I worked at a company a couple of years ago and I would make the trek (I drove) to the corporate headquarters nearly every Tuesday. Driving over the George Washington Bridge each week, I would reflect on the positives of my bucolic lifestyle. I have never had a desire to live in or near New York City or any city for that matter (I lived in Boston years ago for a while).

This week all of those same feelings and thoughts washed over me as I traveled to Pomona. Little did I know that I was in for another dose of reality; one that everyone, especially voters in the upcoming election should reflect upon.

One of my business contacts this week was a former Vice President of a mortgage investment company. She left that career for one of an entrepreneur, desiring to rely on her business instincts and take a self determined course. She is a very bright, articulate middle aged woman and down to Earth as well. Her choice to simplify her life for her family is admirable and she will be very successful.

Sitting on her desk was a granite block about ½” thick, 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. Engraved on it was a remembrance for those who perished on 9-11. Curiously, I asked her about it and she stated that on September 11^th, she was on the 46^th floor of Tower 2. She also told me that she worked in that same office during the time of the first World Trade Center Bombing in the 90’s. On her floor, she was the 'go to' emergency person who coordinated any possible evacuation.

She was noticeably choked up about this subject but she continued to tell me about her experience of that day. She was in to work early and witnessed the fireball when the first plane hit Tower 1. Her exact quote was that she could see fire, papers and clothing (lots of clothing). In Tower 2, security reassured everyone that there was NO danger as there was an issue in Tower 1 ONLY and to stay put. She decided though, after the first World Trade Center attack, to trust her instincts and immediately evacuate her floor.

She told that it seemed like the race down the exit stairs was a flash in time and as she and her colleagues reached the street, they heard a loud jet, looked up and witnessed it crashing into Tower 2. She described the debris raining down as they ran for their lives.

The memory of the people that she knew who perished, haunt her and probably will for the rest of her life. She told me that everyone had to know that if they were above the floors that were hit; there was no way out. Add the fact that those who took the elevator enroute to the lobby when the second plane hit, were instantly incinerated by the back draft.

The memory of many Americans is void of this event as it passes into history. We have lost sight of the fact that if they could, Middle Eastern terrorists would do it again and we will probably see another event in our lifetime. We have grown complacent and accepting and many of us deny a threat at all.

We have lost sight that after 9-11, President Bush rallied Americans at that time and they understood a couple of things:

1) There is and will continue to be a terror threat on our shores. It will take a very long time and will last years and it is a war!

2) We needed to take the fight to them and let them know that we would not sit idle while they attack. He told us that it would be a very long fight and that we would need to be resolute and understand that the world had changed.

3) We will go after Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden, hunt them down and attack terrorism wherever it exists in the world.

Congress authorized the war in Afghanistan and then Iraq. Intelligence used was accepted by not only Congress and the President but by previous presidents on Afghanistan and yes, Iraq. Americans supported this as well.

Today, we have forgotten the shock of 9-11 as opponents of the war spin garbage theories relating 9-11 to an inside job and find every possible angle to undermine our efforts. Their attempts weaken us in the eyes of terrorists and embolden them. That makes us less safe, but true believers and zealots are blind to the agenda and nature of terrorists. In fact, many progressives now claim that we are in no danger from terrorists; others blame us for the attack. Americans have grown weary of the war and have lost sight of why we continue to fight and occupy Iraq and Afghanistan. The excuse that Al Qaeda was not in Iraq has been the battle cry of the Left but the fact remains that we need to take the fight to them, not wait around to be attacked.

Regardless, the facts are the facts and reflecting on 9-11 is something that naysayers and those politically involved should do often. Many people voting for the first time in 2008 were only 11 or 12 years old in 2001. Let’s hope they have studied their history and vote for our safety and security; let’s hope they are aware enough to realize that the terrorist threat is real and still hides in the shadow ready for a chance to attack!

Listening to my colleague, I received this dose of reality and a reminder of the events on that day. It was a wake up call to hear the graphic detail and actuality; an unexpected dose of reality. I hope that everyone will reflect and remember; not just on the anniversary each year but every day.

By the way, that granite block, was an actual piece of the building, engraved and given to each employee by their company as a reminder of those who lost their lives on 9-11.

,