I Will Never Forget

I can remember the moment like it was yesterday.

I had just left first-period biology and was heading to French class when I heard the murmerings. "The world is going to war..." "The U.S. is under attack..."

I couldn't shake my feelings of unease. I ran up to my French classroom and told my teacher to turn on the TV. It was almost 9 AM Indiana time (and almost 10 AM New York time) when I sat - motionless, with tears streaming down my face - and watched the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapse live on TV.

I distinctly remember that the news anchor at the time gasped but did not speak - which seemed to significant to me. I was only 14 years old, but knew that his (or her, I can't remember) silence was bad. I only had 14 years of life experience to work off of, but this - this was bad.

After that, my teacher let me borrow the classroom phone to call my mom. The rest of the class was just arriving at this point, because class was supposed to be starting. I will never forget watching them come in, turn around, and look at the TV (which was mounted to the wall above the doorway).

I finally reached my mom, who had spoken to my aunt. Her son (and his fiancee) worked less than a block from the World Trade Center. The fiancee's mother had called and said she had spoken to her daughter after the first plane hit. She had said they were both fine - but she didn't know where to go or where was safe. Of course, right after that the second plane hit and we didn't hear from them for a few days.

They emerged physically unharmed, but I will never forget the wait - waching in horror as images of untold suffering flitted across the screen.

One year and one month after the attacks, I traveled to New York for my cousin and his fiancee's wedding. While we were there, we paid our respects at Ground Zero. "The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act, but by the size of the heart." I will never forget.


I was only 14 years old on September 11, 2001. Prior to 9 AM, I was pretty positive the world revolved around me. After 9 AM, as I watched the tower collapse live on TV, I realized that there was far more to the world than just me. I felt the world connect and become smaller in a way that it never had before (at least not in my lifetime) and never has since then.

Last year starting on September 11th, I read every single solitary entry this site. It took me about 3 days. I hardly ate, slept, or did any homework.

This year, I am going to pray and remember.

Pray and remember.

I will never forget.

love,