September 11,2007 Six years later

AMEN.

And those murdered that day.

That day provided all Americans a reality check of the world in which we live. Know many of us lost family and friends that horrific day. Bet everyone knows the exact moment and time they were when this happened.

I know that even now I still can hardly bear to watch the memorials, media and movies on the subject since it stiil is too raw for me. If we can learn anything, please let us treasure each moment, each day and each other.

Never forget that so many lost their lives then as well as now in the name of freedom. We owe everything to them.

Bless those that believe in peace and harmony in this world of diversity.

Never forget!

Well said, gcgem. My reaction to the events of 9-11 would be very different today.

I had a 9:30am meeting in center city Philadelphia on 9/11/01 with my most important client - a large meeting on the 38th story of the building, in a conference room.

At about 8:55, I called a colleague from the lobby to ask a question. She was watching TV (we all work from home offices) and sketchy details were coming over on her TV - a plane hitting a NYC building. I recall dismissing it and continuing with my meeting-related questions since I was in a hurry. While we were on the phone, the second plane hit and she immediately saw it and said something like "on my God, another one just hit"... and I said something about a problem with air traffic control.

I hing up and went up to the meeting. Clients joined us. We had my some remote people on teleconference, so they were at home with the news on. Shortly after we started the meeting, a person attending via teleconference interrupted about the Pentagon hit. We had a brief divergence, but I was anxious to steer us back on track.

My cell phone, which was on silent vibrate, was ringing off the hook. I saw my parents' number come up. At this point, the teleconference people were giving blow-by-blows from the TV and everyone was distracted, so I answered my cell. My parents told the same story.....and it went on....planes are hijacked and missing.....somewhere over Pennsylvania.....America is under attack. It still wasn't registering...not with me, nor my clients in the room.

We heard sirens from the streets below. An announcement came over the PA system - evacuate!

Client looked at me and said "uh, this might be a good time to adjourn!" - yeah, i agree.

A very long 40 minute drive from center city to get the kids from school.

Got home and logged into office email - urgent messages asking us to report in that we are ok and where we are. Everyone is to remain reachable, but we are all directed to go be with our families. Called my other client to see if they were ok and not had any impact to their network (I'm in IT). No, no network impact, but they were the food service company that ran the cafeterias in the Towers - so they're definitely impacted in the worst way - many casualties. Good Lord.

I compare this scenario with today. If I was in that lobby today, and planes started to hit towers, would I ascend 38 stories and attempt to conduct a meeting as though everything was fine? Absolutely not!!

9/11 has definitely been a wake-up call for me and, i believe, most other Americans.

I was working in the Capitol building in D.C. the morning of 9/11.

In fact, when the cell phones started buzzing, I was in a closed door meeting with about 15 congressmen.

Let me tell you, they were just as taken aback, shocked, and downright scared as everyone else when the news started coming in.

I am quite happy to live on St. Croix now than in a city with a large X on its back.

I'll take my chances with the hurricanes. At least with those you have some warning!