911 Remembered Matt Jones KSR

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[Moderated by Matt Jones]


September 10, 2009The September 11th News and Views
by Thomas Beisner @ 11:47 pm. Filed under Blue Blooded Opinions


Good morning, my sweet KSR readers, and welcome to the end of your dreadfully long holiday work week. Today, as I’m sure you’re all aware is September 11, 2009 - the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that leveled the Twin Towers, damaged the Pentagon and forever changed the course of American history. For my generation,(Matt Jones ios about 33) this date will forever be engrained in our memory and our hearts as one of the most sudden and shocking moments of our lifetimes. Whether right or wrong, my generation knows Pearl Harbor and D-Day as pages in our history books, while September 11th triggers an unfamiliar feeling of fear and shock - and a moment that still gives me chills to this moment when I think about it. It was the day that life stopped and suddenly our country didn’t seem so invincible. It was the first time that most people in my generation felt that the United States could be a battle ground and that we realized that things would never be the same. For me, this day also puts me right back at the University of Kentucky.

On September 11th, 2001, I had just turned 18 and was about a month into my freshman year at UK. I’ll never forget answering the phone at my Haggin Hall dorm room and hearing the voice of my roommate’s mother, who never called. She told me in a panicked voice to turn on the television, which I did just minutes before I watched the second plane crash into the towers. I’ll never forget the emotions I felt watching NBC that morning, wondering if what I was watching was actually happening, hoping that she had been mistaken and the Bruckheimer-like footage I was seeing was just an elaborate movie ad. I stayed glued to the television before leaving for my class that morning on a silent, zombie-like walk. When I entered the Classroom Building for Dr. DeSantis’ COM 101 class, few students talked and an eerie feeling overtook the room. Dr. DeSantis, who was visibly shaken, gave the class simple instructions. “Go home. Call your parents and tell them that you love them. This is bigger than school,” he said. We left and I arrived back at the dorm just a few minutes before watching one of the towers crumble to the ground. For as long as I live, I’ll never forget what happened that morning.

I’m sure everyone has a similar story about September 11th, 2001 and none of us - regardless of age - will ever forget where we were or the emotions we felt on that day. And that’s what is important. As we get more removed from that tragic day, it’s important to keep the families of those who lost loved ones in the attacks, in the ensuing rescue efforts and in the war that followed in your hearts. One day, my kids will only see 9/11 as a page in their history book and might not fully understand the millions of lives it impacted and the way it changed the course of this country. But, for those of us who have friends and family impacted or felt the overwhelming emotions of that day, we’ll never forget. So, today, say a prayer or do what you do for all of the people who suffered this tragedy eight years ago. And let’s hope we never feel that way again.