9-11 Never Forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slickk]

@MollyMalone Your story warmed my heart and brought back memories of those terrible hours and days after for NYers. My own kids would have been the age to want Oreos too yet for the life of me I can’t remember much else of that day but the horror.
Thank you for your compliment on my daughter’s photo. I will tell her that it was very much appreciated especially on a day we so need to remember and honor. She had a wonderful vantage point there for sure. ((Hugs)) as you relive that day over and over having been so intimately close to it...

 

[AGBF]

A belated, but no less very appreciative, Thank You, @Karl_K ; your tradition means much to this New Yorker.

I again saw to it that my son had a box of Oreo cookies Friday. Because when we were finally reunited at about 8:30 pm 19 years ago, I asked him what he wanted for supper, assuring him he could have anything he wanted, I'd go anywhere/purchase-prepare whatever he wished (he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast that morning, when he headed off to school just north of the WTC). His reply: "Oreo cookies and milk." After downing cookies and milk, he showered off all the ashes (we threw out the clothes he'd worn) and went to bed. When I peeked into his room before I retired for the evening, I saw that my 15-year-old had retrieved, from the back of his closet, his favorite stuffed animal from childhood & was sleeping with it clutched to his chest. It was his nighttime companion for the next week.

@Slick1 , what a wonderful photograph of the Towers in Light; it's such an evocative tribute. Thank you for posting it, and please relay our thanks to your daughter!

My heart is full. With the memories of the horrific losses, the widespread anguish left in the wake of that day... and also, the wondrous sense of caring community that suffused the City and beyond.

Thank you for sharing that, Molly. Our children were so young and vulnerable.

 

[MollyMalone]

Thank you for sharing that, Molly. Our children were so young and vulnerable.

The only thing he has ever told me about the attack itself is what he said after we finally were able to hug each other that night: as a tear trickled down his ash-covered face, he said softly, "I saw people falling, I saw people leaping."

A piece of my heart broke off for him.

 

[AGBF]

The only thing he has ever told me about the attack itself is what he said after we finally were able to hug each other that night: as a tear trickled down his ash-covered face, he said softly, "I saw people falling, I saw people leaping."

A piece of my heart broke off for him.

It's just too much to bear. That's why we need Karl's thread every year. It's like losing a loved one in your family or seeing George Floyd murdered slowly on television. You can't get over that kind of deep trauma in one year, the time allotted to mourning. The wound goes too deep. It takes a lot of time for healing. Hold your son close and keep the Oreos coming!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Oh @MollyMalone oh oh oh...no words...

kind regards--Sharon

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

@MollyMalone you have to search for orios here but i think ill shed tears every time i see a packet now

 

[Karl_K]

A belated, but no less very appreciative, Thank You, @Karl_K ; your tradition means much to this New Yorker.

Your welcome.
Glad you posted I was starting to worry about you.

 

[MollyMalone]

Oh please don't weep, @Daisys and Diamonds -- we think of Oreos as comfort food!

I do have a happy 9/11-related memory that I hope will put a smile on your face. I had a ticket to see The Producers -- which had opened to rave reviews earlier in the year -- on the 25th. Because so many out-of-towners had to give up their tickets to Broadway shows in the wake of 9/11, theatre producers gave blocks of tickets for what otherwise would have been empty seats during those weeks to FDNY personnel, other first responders, those in military service, etc.

On the night that I was at the St. James Theatre , there were several contingents of FDNY firefighters who, of course, received standing ovations (no raucous cheering; rather, respectfully silent but hearty applause) as they came into the theatre. The Producers is a wacky show & the cast (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Gary Beach, Brad Oscar, Cady Huffman) was superb. But I don't think I was the only one who was snortling in giddy laughter because it felt so good to laugh about something.

When leaving the theatre, I happened to be next to a firefighter whose firehouse number I recognized as being one of the ones hard hit by 9/11. I touched his sleeve and said softly, "I'm sorry for your losses. Thank you for your service." He looked down at me (I'm not quite 5'; he was probably a foot taller), smiled, and said "Thank you." And then, with a twinkle in his eye, he grabbed my right hand in his left hand, clasped me by the waist, and twirlingly danced me down W, 44th Street while singing (he had a lovely voice) the chorus of "Prisoners of Love" -- see 0:30-1:04 of this clip of a terrific high school production of The Producers

 

[yssie]

A belated, but no less very appreciative, Thank You, @Karl_K ; your tradition means much to this New Yorker.

I again saw to it that my son had a box of Oreo cookies Friday. Because when we were finally reunited at about 8:30 pm 19 years ago, I asked him what he wanted for supper, assuring him he could have anything he wanted, I'd go anywhere/purchase-prepare whatever he wished (he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast that morning, when he headed off to school just north of the WTC). His reply: "Oreo cookies and milk." After downing cookies and milk, he showered off all the ashes (we threw out the clothes he'd worn) and went to bed. When I peeked into his room before I retired for the evening, I saw that my 15-year-old had retrieved, from the back of his closet, his favorite stuffed animal from childhood & was sleeping with it clutched to his chest. It was his nighttime companion for the next week.

@Slick1 , what a wonderful photograph of the Towers in Light; it's such an evocative tribute. Thank you for posting it, and please relay our thanks to your daughter!

My heart is full. With the memories of the horrific losses, the widespread anguish left in the wake of that day... and also, the wondrous sense of caring community that suffused the City and beyond.

Every year I read Karl's thread and I cry.

This year I cried reading your post. I thought I'd hold off on responding here... Until I had something more meaningful to say. It's been three days and I still don't have anything more meaningful to say - I still don't have the right words. But thank you for sharing a snippet of your story with us Molly.

I couldn't forget even if I wanted to. But I wouldn't ever want to.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Oh please don't weep, @Daisys and Diamonds -- we think of Oreos as comfort food!

I do have a happy 9/11-related memory that I hope will put a smile on your face. I had a ticket to see The Producers -- which had opened to rave reviews earlier in the year -- on the 25th. Because so many out-of-towners had to give up their tickets to Broadway shows in the wake of 9/11, theatre producers gave blocks of tickets for what otherwise would have been empty seats during those weeks to FDNY personnel, other first responders, those in military service, etc.

On the night that I was at the St. James Theatre , there were several contingents of FDNY firefighters who, of course, received standing ovations (no raucous cheering; rather, respectfully silent but hearty applause) as they came into the theatre. The Producers is a wacky show & the cast (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Gary Beach, Brad Oscar, Cady Huffman) was superb. But I don't think I was the only one who was snortling in giddy laughter because it felt so good to laugh about something.

When leaving the theatre, I happened to be next to a firefighter whose firehouse number I recognized as being one of the ones hard hit by 9/11. I touched his sleeve and said softly, "I'm sorry for your losses. Thank you for your service." He looked down at me (I'm not quite 5'; he was probably a foot taller), smiled, and said "Thank you." And then, with a twinkle in his eye, he grabbed my right hand in his left hand, clasped me by the waist, and twirlingly danced me down W, 44th Street while singing (he had a lovely voice) the chorus of "Prisoners of Love" -- see 0:30-1:04 of this clip of a terrific high school production of The Producers

 

[missy]

 

[Big Fat Facets]

A belated, but no less very appreciative, Thank You, @Karl_K ; your tradition means much to this New Yorker.

I again saw to it that my son had a box of Oreo cookies Friday. Because when we were finally reunited at about 8:30 pm 19 years ago, I asked him what he wanted for supper, assuring him he could have anything he wanted, I'd go anywhere/purchase-prepare whatever he wished (he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast that morning, when he headed off to school just north of the WTC). His reply: "Oreo cookies and milk." After downing cookies and milk, he showered off all the ashes (we threw out the clothes he'd worn) and went to bed. When I peeked into his room before I retired for the evening, I saw that my 15-year-old had retrieved, from the back of his closet, his favorite stuffed animal from childhood & was sleeping with it clutched to his chest. It was his nighttime companion for the next week.

@Slick1 , what a wonderful photograph of the Towers in Light; it's such an evocative tribute. Thank you for posting it, and please relay our thanks to your daughter!

My heart is full. With the memories of the horrific losses, the widespread anguish left in the wake of that day... and also, the wondrous sense of caring community that suffused the City and beyond.

thank you for sharing something so touching. i love the way you write!

 

[Big Fat Facets]

The only thing he has ever told me about the attack itself is what he said after we finally were able to hug each other that night: as a tear trickled down his ash-covered face, he said softly, "I saw people falling, I saw people leaping."

A piece of my heart broke off for him.

chokes me up...

my soul weeps, not only for your son but those that fell and leapt...and their families

 

[AGBF]

I, also, benefited from the post 9/11 empty theatres, Molly. My husband had a coupon for some fancy hotel and we used it soon after the attacks. (I never leave Connecticut. At least not to go to Manhattan by train!) Every Broadway theatre was empty, every restaurant, every cab. The city was a ghost town . The theatre of a play we went to was very sparsely attended. The cast came out and thanked us for attending. The whole weekend was incredibly moving. We walked miles, but also took cabs. As I said elsewhere in the thread my husband was not in the city the day of the attacks. His office was not in a building that had been hit but was full of ashes and was guarded by the National Guard on his return. Seeing it like that was unforgettable.

 

[WinkHPD]

I live in Boise, Idaho. I came out from a workout and saw the tower burning and watched on live TV as the second plane came into the picture and flew into the second tower. I turned to my workout partner and told him, your life has just changed. He asked me why. "Because we are now at war. One could have conceivably been an accident, two is an act of war."

I had run to the gym to warm up, but I had no energy after the horror I had just seen so I walked through the field behind the gym towards an irrigation ditch with a dirt road beside it where I could walk the mile home. There was some work being done in the field and there were piles of dirt. I saw a fox standing on one of the piles looking at me, so I spoke softly to it as I walked along. I told her how her world had just changed, although she would never know it from her view. She followed me for several hundred yards, always about 20 yard behind me until I reached the incline up to the road and she turned and trotted back towards the gym, probably disappointed that I did not disperse some food for her along with my rambling thoughts.

When I reached home, I sat with my children and told them and my wife what had happened, sobbing as I realised what was surely going to happen in the next few weeks and years. I had fought my war decades earlier and now a new war was here to steal lives from both sides, fomenting new hatreds to torment us for decades to come.

Wink

 

[Karl_K]

That reminds me of the k-9/sar dog handler from Canada who was out on leave for pstd. With in hours of the second tower being hit he was on his way to NYC with his dog.
He and his dog made the news for rescuing some people.
When he got home his department tried to fire him.

Trakr - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[AGBF]

I want to reiterate what Molly said above, Karl. Since we have lingered here talking after 9/11, which I do not recall our doing on other years (but no one should trust my memory), I thought I would also thank you for your yearly thread.

I guess I never thought it necessary to put my appreciation into words like "thank you". I just felt that you knew how I felt. I probably should not have assumed. I do think you know I am here every year and that I post to the thread every year, but maybe you do not. How can you keep track of everyone who posts to this thread yearly? It is not your job.

It should be our job to tell you that we have come to rely on your thread being here and having certain photographs and sentiments expressed in it that will help all of us to get through another September 11.

I know how strong your faith is, but I also know that you suffer as you prepare this thread and relive the horror of 9/11. I am glad that God is with you as you work, but I also wanted to tell you how much I depend on your work. Thank you so much for for doing it.

Big, hugs
(((Karl)))
Deb

 

[Karl_K]

@AGBF Your so very welcome.
There are some who post every year after all these years some stick in my mind.

Some years we chat, some years it is just "I remember".
This thread is rough to do, but it is therapy for me too.

huge hugs
(((((((((((Deb)))))))))))))))

 

[Karl_K]

I debated with myself, do I do an all new memorial for the 20th, do I do the same one as in the past years?
Then I saw this one and it spoke to me, its perfect for the occasion.
Thank you so much to those that shared their experiences.
I am once again sitting here with tears running down my face.
A huge hug!!!! to each and every person reading this and prayers for the hurting, and the mourning!

NEVER FORGET!!!!!!!!

 

[MollyMalone]

I debated with myself, do I do an all new memorial for the 20th, do I do the same one as in the past years?
Then I saw this one and it spoke to me, its perfect for the occasion.
Thank you so much to those that shared their experiences.
I am once again sitting here with tears running down my face.
A huge hug!!!! to each and every person reading this and prayers for the hurting, and the mourning!

NEVER FORGET!!!!!!!!

Odd as it may sound to some, it is comforting to me to read through this thread again (and those of years past) on the eve of 9/11's 20th anniversary. A heartfelt thank you for your continued faithfulness in marking the occasion.

 

[Calliecake]

I debated with myself, do I do an all new memorial for the 20th, do I do the same one as in the past years?
Then I saw this one and it spoke to me, its perfect for the occasion.
Thank you so much to those that shared their experiences.
I am once again sitting here with tears running down my face.
A huge hug!!!! to each and every person reading this and prayers for the hurting, and the mourning!

NEVER FORGET!!!!!!!!

Thank you Karl. I’ve been watching a few of the special shows about 9/11 this week. Twenty years later and seeing the footage, photographs and hearing the stories of the people lost, it fells like it happened yesterday. Our country lost so many wonderful people that day.

 

[monarch64]

I debated with myself, do I do an all new memorial for the 20th, do I do the same one as in the past years?
Then I saw this one and it spoke to me, its perfect for the occasion.
Thank you so much to those that shared their experiences.
I am once again sitting here with tears running down my face.
A huge hug!!!! to each and every person reading this and prayers for the hurting, and the mourning!

NEVER FORGET!!!!!!!!

oh my. I came here for this thread bc you post it every year. When I began reading/scrolling and couldn’t find a 2021 update I started to worry. I haven’t been checking into PS like I used to for quite some time now, and when I kept on scrolling I started to cry. And then I thought I would be SO upset and sad if anyone I’ve known here passed. ‍ It was a terrible feeling. I’m so glad you’re ok. Sorry for being dramatic—I feel pretty dumb right now—but I also had to let you know how much I care about you and every other PS member.

 

[Karl_K]

oh my. I came here for this thread bc you post it every year. When I began reading/scrolling and couldn’t find a 2021 update I started to worry. I haven’t been checking into PS like I used to for quite some time now, and when I kept on scrolling I started to cry. And then I thought I would be SO upset and sad if anyone I’ve known here passed. ‍ It was a terrible feeling. I’m so glad you’re ok. Sorry for being dramatic—I feel pretty dumb right now—but I also had to let you know how much I care about you and every other PS member.

I'm soooo sorry for causing you to be upset.

Every time I open this thread I start crying again but even more when reading your post. I am so sorry.

 

[Karl_K]

Thank you Karl. I’ve been watching a few of the special shows about 9/11 this week. Twenty years later and seeing the footage, photographs and hearing the stories of the people lost, it fells like it happened yesterday. Our country lost so many wonderful people that day.

I can't watch the shows, I just close my eyes and see it as clear as the day it happened in my head.

 

[Karl_K]

Odd as it may sound to some, it is comforting to me to read through this thread again (and those of years past) on the eve of 9/11's 20th anniversary. A heartfelt thank you for your continued faithfulness in marking the occasion.

I understand.
For me it helps me deal with my anger about it, which is as hot as it was on that day.

 

[oncrutchesrightnow]

Thank you for this thread.

 

[dk168]

Time flies, and I remember vividly the day that changed the world in so many ways!

R.I.P.

DK

 

[missy]

America mourns on 20th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

Joe Biden to attend ceremonies in New York, Pennsylvania and at Pentagon in memory of the 2,977 people killed by al-Qaida hijackers

www.theguardian.com

"​

America mourns on 20th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks​

America is mourning the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people and helped shape the 21st century.

Joe Biden is due this morning to join families of the victims at three separate locations in what he may have hoped would prove a rare moment of national unity. But anger at the US president’s recent botched withdrawal from Afghanistan is still raw.



Two decades on, images from 11 September 2001 are vividly imprinted in the memory of some – everyone can remember where they were – but now represent a historical event for a new generation born after the atrocity.

In a crystalline blue sky, al-Qaida terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and crashed two of them into the World Trade Center, a symbol of America’s financial might in downtown Manhattan.

People from all over the world were killed in the initial explosions, jumping to their deaths or being pulverised by the collapsing twin towers, a spectacle that horrified audiences on live television.

The hijackers rammed another plane into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the US military near Washington, tearing a hole in its side. A fourth plane – possibly heading towards the US Capitol – crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers heroically fought back.


A total of 2,977 people were killed – 2,753 of them at what became known as “Ground Zero” in New York – a bigger toll than the “day of infamy” at Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, will attend solemn ceremonies at all three sites on Saturday to “honor and memorialize the lives lost”, the White House said. At the 9/11 memorial in New York, at 8.30am, they will be joined by former president Barack Obama, who oversaw the killing of the al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in 2011.

Biden will travel to Shanksville on Saturday afternoon before visiting the Pentagon for a wreath-laying ceremony. But he is still facing congressional investigations into the chaotic departure of US forces from Kabul, less than two weeks ago, that ended America’s longest war.

The Taliban are now back in control of Afghanistan, just as they were on 9/11, raising fears that the country could once again become a terrorist hub.

Former president George W Bush, who launched the retaliatory war in Afghanistan in 2001, will speak at a memorial service in Shanksville. At 10.03am the names of the passengers and crew members, who were all killed, will be read out.


Former president Donald Trump will reportedly visit the 9/11 memorial on Saturday afternoon, once the ceremony has finished and after Biden has left the city.

The memorial includes cascading water in the footprints of the twin towers. At Saturday’s solemn ceremony, the names of each victim will be read out with a tolling bell, lasting about four hours.

There will be six moments of silence, marking the times that each tower was struck and the times that each fell, as well as the moment when the Pentagon was attacked, and the time that United 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.

Some services and acts of remembrance were held on Friday. In a ceremony at the state department in Washington, Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, said: “9/11 was, to understate, one of the darkest days in our history – but out of it also came these demonstrations of profound humanity, compassion, strength and courage.

“Above all, it showed our remarkable resilience. It showed our capacity to defend the pluralism that has long been one of our country’s greatest strengths, including by embracing our Muslim American brothers and sisters. It showed the risks that so many are willing to take to save the lives of complete strangers. So today, we remember all that, and more.”

"

 

[AGBF]

I thought I checked for this thread before going to bed, but I must have missed it because now that I am reading through it I see that other people posted in it yesterday and last night. I, also, was thinking of Karl's thread last night as I anticipated this morning.

This thread is, for me, the place I come to remember 9/11. Last night at around midnight I was with a friend with whom I had never before shared the story of where I was on 9/11. He told me where he had been.

I knew I had to come here first thing in the morning to touch base with the people with whom I have always shared this anniversary. I knew that you would all be gathering here today and I wanted to be with you. I thank all of you for showing up as you do every year to share your memories and to commemorate the occasion. (That is probably a poorly worded sentence using both memories and commemorate; forgive my writing.)

As always, I thank you, Karl, for starting this thread and keeping the flame alive. Hugs to all of you. Prayers continue.

(((Karl)))

Deb/AGBF

 

[kenny]

Why do they hate us so much?