Remembering

I got into work (my office at the time) at 7 AM. I had asked to make my office at our department's Historic Station 8. The department's oldest and decommissioned station. I only had a few months before I would retire, and before I retired  I want to get out of Administration and finish some things I started years before. The date was September 11th, 2001.

As I made some coffee and listened to the fax, computer power-up and the coffee maker perk, I clicked on the old TV. Some news was on, and I wasn't really listening until I heard, "A plane just flew into the Trade Center in New York City."  I walked to see what was going on and saw the video playing out. I grabbed my cup of coffee and sat down. For the next 2, 3, 4 hours, I sat there glued to the TV. I watched the second tower fall and chalk covered people, in a zombie state, walking down streets kicking up more dust. Firefighters rushing into the scene and Police officers guiding people around, and looking like they don't know what to do.

Days later, I was told our Fire Chief, our Union president and the Executive Assistant Chief were going to New York to help because some of their Fire Chiefs were killed in the tower collapse.  Our FEMA Response Team prepared to leave for New York too. I was like a lame duck since I was months from retirement. I wanted to do something, but what? Then a retiree's wife called me and said, "I just saw a news report saying the firefighters needed dry socks and the search dogs need food." This was due to the hot rubble they were searching on. She asked if Historic Station 8 could be a drop off point for anyone donating socks, dog food, dog booties etc., to be sent to New York. I agreed and sat things into motion by notifying local news and radio channels. I made more phone calls to air transport companies and they jumped at the opportunity to get involved and help. America was coming together as one. It was a great feeling. People donated so much, New York asked us to stop sending stuff. We had so much dog food, it fed the animal shelters for a month afterwards.

In the days and months to follow, the news was saturated with re-play after re-play of the towers being hit, stories about what they did, how they hid from the falling debris and dust. It was to the point of ... nothing else mattered, except constantly reminding us of the tragic event we ALL experienced. Maybe not personally, but via TV, radio or social media. And now we are hit again with those sights and sounds of September 11th on its 20th anniversary.

NO, I WILL NOT FORGET! How can I? It is burned into my brain, and every year we are forced to relive it all over again. Believe me, I will never forget my brother firefighters and police we lost, along with all the other civilians. Nor the ones who died later from diseases caused by their searching the rubble for survivors or body parts. Nor will I forget the Americans coming together to do whatever they could to help heal the rescuers and the city of New York. I'll never forget. It is as hard for me to watch those planes fly into the towers again and again as it is for me to watch Vietnam movies and remember friends I lost there too. I don't want to remember anymore. Forgive me, but I can not forget the loss. Hug your children, friends and relatives. Life is short. God bless you all.