Remembering 9/11.

September 11, 2019 / in Personal / by Jason Terry

This week we remember the terrible events of 9/11. And the bravery and sacrifice that were an important part of that day.

Some of my clients are talking about where they were on 9/11. And some are talking about visiting the 9/11 memorial in NYC. I haven’t been yet, but it’s supposed to be worth a trip to New York just to see it. It’s on my list for 2020.

I was in Colorado Springs.

I remember vividly where I was at on September 11th, 2001. I was in Colorado Springs with my family. We had just gotten ready to leave our rental home to take the cog railway up Pike’s Peak. I got in the car to drive and turned on the radio. It had been a good music station the day before, but somebody was talking. So I changed the channel. And somebody else was talking. So I changed the channel again. And then I started listening to what they were talking about on the third channel.

It was unbelievable.

And I don’t mean that as a descriptive statement… I literally couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I rushed back inside our rental and explained that something was going on with the Twin Towers and we turned on the TV.

Like many of you, we sat in front of the TV for a couple of hours as things unfolded. I remember feeling scared. Unsafe. Worried about the people living and working in New York. And at the Pentagon. I couldn’t understand why people would do these terrible things.

I remember imagining what it must have been like to be at the top of one of the towers… as it fell. And then being able to hear what it was like in this recorded phone call. (WARNING: It’s incredibly hard to listen to this recording. Once you hear it, you’ll never forget it. It’s chilling.)

My brother and I had flown to Colorado Springs, and my parents had driven from Wichita. The airports closed, so we ended up getting back to Kansas City in the car with my parents. What had started as a wonderful family vacation ended in a sobering, somber reflection on the terrible events of 9/11 during a 10 hour ride back to KC.

The Heroes of 9/11.

There are countless stories of the heroic moments of 9/11.

So many first responders gave their lives trying to help other people. The attacks caused the deaths of 2,996 people and the injuries of more than 6,000 others. The death toll included 265 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon. (Source: Wikipedia)

It’s a great reminder to pause and appreciate those sacrifices. To appreciate the men and women in uniform that protect us at home and abroad. From police and fire to armed forces.

We all get caught up in our busy lives. It’s easy to forget what happens every day in our country to make sure we are OKAY. Next time you see someone in uniform, be sure to thank them for their service. Buy them a coffee. Let them go ahead of you in line. Whatever. It matters.

And thanks for reading. You know I appreciate it. Where were you on 9/11?