Tag: 9/11

To the heroes, and to the perished. I remember you.

On By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it.19 Comments

Ten years ago today, I remembered where I was, and what I was doing.

I remembered the fear.

I remembered the love uniting us – one nation under God.

But mostly, I remember the patriotism of the strong, and the brave. Lives were lost, and lives were saved.

I may not have pictures of the memorials (how I wish I could be there!). But I do have some poignant images of our freedom and the price we have paid.

My heart moves for all of America; for every hero, every survivor, and every loved one.

Prayers to you all.

    America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)
    Commonly referred to as America
    by Rev. Samuel F. Smith

    My country, ’tis of Thee,
    Sweet Land of Liberty
    Of thee I sing;
    Land where my fathers died,
    Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
    From every mountain side
    Let Freedom ring.

    National Cemetary Point Loma

    Wreath Rose at the National Cemetary

    My native country, thee,
    Land of the noble free,
    Thy name I love;
    I love thy rocks and rills,
    Thy woods and templed hills,
    My heart with rapture thrills
    Like that above.

    Point Loma, National Cemetary

    Let music swell the breeze,
    And ring from all the trees
    Sweet Freedom’s song;
    Let mortal tongues awake;
    Let all that breathe partake;
    Let rocks their silence break,
    The sound prolong.

    National Cemetary

    Daisy at the National Cemetary

    Our fathers’ God to Thee,
    Author of Liberty,
    To thee we sing,
    Long may our land be bright
    With Freedom’s holy light,
    Protect us by thy might
    Great God, our King.

    National Cemetary

    Flower from the grounds of the National Cemetary

    Our glorious Land to-day,
    ‘Neath Education’s sway,
    Soars upward still.
    Its hills of learning fair,
    Whose bounties all may share,
    Behold them everywhere
    On vale and hill!

    Hillside National Cemetary in Point Loma

    FLowers on the ground of the National Cemetary

    Thy safeguard, Liberty,
    The school shall ever be,
    Our Nation’s pride!
    No tyrant hand shall smite,
    While with encircling might
    All here are taught the Right
    With Truth allied.

    Headstones at the National Cemetary

    Memorial Flower at the National Cemetary

    Beneath Heaven’s gracious will
    The stars of progress still
    Our course do sway;
    In unity sublime
    To broader heights we climb,
    Triumphant over Time,
    God speeds our way!

    View from the National Cemetary

    Memorial Rose on a grave

    Grand birthright of our sires,
    Our altars and our fires
    Keep we still pure!
    Our starry flag unfurled,
    The hope of all the world,
    In peace and light impearled,
    God hold secure!

Plaque at the National Cemetery

Never Forget.

*All photographs taken in Point Loma, California at the National Cemetery.


9/11- Never Forget

On By AngeliaIn In my heart forever & everLeave a comment

As well all do, I remember this day, eight years ago, very distinctly; down to the minute. I was driving from Benbrook to west Fort Worth heading to work. I was at the light of Vickery and Horne, when I heard on the radio that something had happened. A plane had crashed into a building. That is all we knew at that point. The world thought it was a tragic accident? An aircraft malfunction? A misroute?

It wasn’t until I got to work among all of my stunned co-workers when the second plane hit. Then, we knew it was no accident. Hearts sank as we watched the burning of the building. The frantic response of the FDNY, and the NYPD. The people streaming from the streets, displaced and in shock.

I remember the phones were completely silent. Not one single call. The world was watching a tragedy unfold.

News of the hijacked planes in the air, the crashing of one in the Pennsylvania field. The crashing of another into the Pentagon. It seemed it would never end. How in the world did this happen? The FAA grounded all planes. At that point, we were desperate to check all of our live records to see if we had anyone in danger of being on board one of the hijacked planes or a possible hijacked plane.

We did not.

I remember waiting, with breath held, as they tried to get in contact with one other plane that was enroute to LAX. It would have had a lot of fuel coming from the east. We waited to see what it might devastate.  Finally, confirmation came that it was not hijacked.

The towers tumbled down as America watched in horror. The crashing and burning of those buildings matched the ache in our souls, for all the lost, the unaccounted for, and the emergency responders.  America would never be the same. We were crippled. We were so unprepared.

The rest of the day, the rest of the week, and month. My job was to move people, from plane to plane, who were trying to get home. Refunding tickets of those, too afraid, to travel on a plane. Booking rental cars, from as far as California, to drive to Texas, or Illinois; wherever they were just to get home and be with their families.

The travel industry itself came to a standstill. In that month, after 9/11, our agency refunded over 41,000 dollars and had no revenue. To this day, I still cringe booking a flight for a client traveling on 9/11. Never Forget.

Yes, I remember that day. I will never forget those lives lost. Those hearts broken. The absolute battering of our country’s spirit.

I am glad I can stand proud, despite it all. Our flags still fly. Our spirits are still strong. Our military still fight. God strengthened us as a country.  Today, it is safer to fly in an airplane than ever before. We learned the true meaning of a hero. We still stand as one.  When our country stops remembering, that is when all is for naught. We must stay strong and keep their memories alive.

Honor and remember those brave and those lost on this anniversary.

May God bless you. May God bless and comfort those hurting.

Never Forget.