The American Spectator

Andrew B| 9.14.09 @ 7:11AM

Along with the silence, another sense-memory will live with me forever. Three or four days later, as I left my home for work in the early morning, I thought "How odd for someone to be barbequing at this hour."

Then it struck me--what I smelled was the vast funeral pyre about 20 miles to the west. I would smell that smoke for many days to come.

Now, although I am a thousand miles from NYC, the smell of a neighbor's grill still evokes a moment of shock and remembrance each time I smell it.

Darin| 9.14.09 @ 7:18AM

I remember being on a military base. While our particular base didn't seem to be in immediate danger, all bases went to the highest alert level. People were not permitted on the base even if they lived there. Those on the base were hesitant to leave. While there was a lot of uncertainty, there was no panic. We were professionals, and that meant we may be called upon for further action. So we prepared accordingly.

Appleby| 9.14.09 @ 7:47AM

I recall reading of a gym downtown with lockers that no one wanted to clean out ... whose owners were atomized on 9/11/01.

Doubtless there are many such stories that will never be told.

P.S. Where was this story on Friday?

Dave| 9.14.09 @ 8:01AM

On that horrible day, I was living in Alexandria, Virgina across the street from Alexandria Hospital. We heard the plane hit the Pentagon, and heard rumors that another plane was headed to DC. My son was attending St. Alban's, next to the National Cathedral, a perfect target for terrorists. I tried to leave the house to get him, but my street was blocked by police to receive the wounded from the Pentagon attack. You can imagine the panic we felt.

Brubaker| 9.14.09 @ 8:49AM

On the morning of 9/11, a colleague and I arrived in Warsaw, Poland after an overnight flight from Washington, DC. As we checked into our hotel rooms and began to unpack, I turned on the TV to get the overnight news. The first thing that I saw was smoke billowing from one of the trade center towers.

I called my friend and told him to turn on the TV. He did and, having seen what was happening, came to my room. We sat in shocked silence as the unbelievable unfolded before our eyes. What had seemed to be a terrible accident became an act of barbarity as a second airliner flew into the second tower.

The events of that day continued to unfold, but those first minutes remain forever burned in my memory. It is with a deep and abiding sadness that I recognize many have "moved on." I doubt that I ever will.

Joe B| 9.14.09 @ 10:04AM

What I find astounding is that it was Democrat stupidity in the WH that invited these attacks, and yet a mere eight years later, look who's in charge of our country. I'm still reeling that the F22 production program has been recently canceled; you've got to see this plane in the skies to believe it -- it's like advanced extraterrestrial technology. Instead, retarded Democrats are debasing our currency by flooding the underclass with cash and government jobs.

If only there had been one F16 armed with a few sidewinder missiles patrolling the Hudson that fateful morning.

Matt Morehouse| 9.14.09 @ 10:10AM

Worse than the sounds of silence on that day is the deafening roar of silence eight years later as we "commemorate" the day as a day of "service".
I suppose Patriots Day was but a passing fancy. http://conversationsaroundawoodstove.blogspot.com

WeR1| 9.14.09 @ 10:47AM

Sep 11, 2001 was way too close for comfort. I had reservations for a trip to NYC for my family scheduled for exactly 2 weeks later, including visiting the World Trade Center. My son-in-law walked out of the Pentagon amidst fire & smoke. Flight 93 flew over my house in W. PA. Never forget.

Ned S.| 9.14.09 @ 12:00PM

I live out west in what must have some of the busiest skies of fly over country. Our skies were very blue that year with very few storms to change their appearance, so we could always see the jet contrails streaking across the sky, which to my wife and I looked beautiful. It wasn't uncommon to spot over twenty jets at any one time. For us this meant prosperity and strength.
9/11 always was a day of remembrance for me since my younger brother was killed in a car accident on that date decades before. Tuesday the eleventh was just four days after I had finished radiation treatments for disease. I had fallen into the habit of walking my little Pomeranian and planned to do so that day. However as the days events unfolded my plans changed. I stayed in the house glued to the TV set and calling close relatives.
The next day I took my dog for our morning walk which since we live in a small town is mostly in the quiet countryside. I was struck by something absent. Then silence of the sky without any of the contrails left from jets full of folks traveling across our great country. A giant engine had been turned off. It was sad and at the same time made me angry. I was and still am angry at the barbarians who in their false sense of righteousness murdered innocent people and tried to destroy a great nation simply because it has the good sense and ability to improve its living conditions.
If 9/11 is to me branded a day of service, that service should be the continued hunting and killing of the folks who practice these acts cruelty.

Nobama| 9.14.09 @ 1:45PM

Which enemy of America is more dangerous: Terrorists or Liberals?

I really don't know.

Marc Jeric| 9.14.09 @ 2:38PM

Abu Hussein has transformed the 9/11 Day of Remembrance into the National Day of Service - you know, where ACORN brown shirts and union thugs celebrate the advent of the Great Leader.

Tim| 9.14.09 @ 2:48PM

From The City in the Sea, by Edgar Allen Poe

"But lo, a stir is in the air!
The wave - there is a movement there!
As if the towers had thrust aside,
In slightly sinking, the dull tide -
As if their tops had feebly given
A void within the filmy Heaven.
The waves have now a redder glow -
The hours are breathing faint and low -
And when, amid no earthly moans,
Down, down that town shall settle hence,
Hell, rising from a thousand thrones,
Shall do it reverence."

KyMouse| 9.14.09 @ 4:52PM

Every 9/11, I reread my copy of "The Day that Changed America," published by America Media Specials (Boca Raton) shortly after the attacks. Among all of the photos that have become so familiar over the years are two that disappeared from almost all other sources right away: "Palestinians" celebrating in the streets, firing guns and handing out candy as they cheer. One caption reads, "Palestinians clap, sing, laugh and wave flags...upon learning that terrorists hit America that day."

Some of the TV coverage I still have from that morning shows live footage of those Arab/Muslim celebrations, but as we all know, networks quickly decided not to show it again -- it didn't show our Muslim/Arab friends in a flattering light.

What were our Jewish friends doing in Israel while the "Palestinians" were cheering for the terrorists? If memory serves, Israelis were giving blood, including President Katsav.

I'm glad I have that book, published before the photos were censored.

John Navratil| 9.14.09 @ 6:03PM

Living in Houston with lots of air traffic, I was struck by that silence from above.

Joe B| 9.14.09 @ 6:59PM

"Which enemy of America is more dangerous: Terrorists or Liberals? "

Liberals, clearly, because they can destroy our society. And terrorists we're allowed to shoot without much penalty.

Joe B| 9.14.09 @ 6:59PM

"Which enemy of America is more dangerous: Terrorists or Liberals? "

Liberals, clearly, because they can destroy our society. And terrorists we're allowed to shoot without much penalty.

diane| 9.14.09 @ 8:51PM

I used to live near the Pentagon but have since moved out of the beltway. I still start when I hear or see a low flying helicopter. It was so quiet afterward each turn of the blade seemed a cause for concern.

chi turbo flat iron| 9.14.09 @ 10:10PM

hmm....terror,The sounds of silence.

Paul| 9.14.09 @ 10:20PM

September 11, 2001 I was driving to SC for meetings and the beginning of a client visit road trip. Instead of our planned discussion we watched events on television. Other meetings were canceled as air travel became impossible. My day ended with a long drive back home to Winston-Salem, NC. I remember my 12 year old daughter running to the door and into my arms; hugging me tightly, so glad and relieved to have me home. And I thought of the other sons and daughters who would never hug their fathers and mothers again. I thought also of a colleague who worked on the 106 floor and a conversation we had about his two year old, who was now without a dad. I was sad and I was angry, shocked and stunned. And then I saw our much maligned president with his arm around a fireman, megaphone in hand, and I felt resolve. And then Jay Leno showed a video joke about Bin laden and I was confident we would right this terrible wrong. I thought about how different that was from the spectacle of Dan Rather crying and lamenting all we had lost on the Letterman show. And finally, two years later driving to the City from NJ with the family on a holiday trip, everyone laughing and happy to be together, I remember the strange silence that settled over us when we rounded a bend in the highway and saw the view of NYC, now changed forever.

I am irritated by my CEO's reference to the day as a 'tragedy' when he commemorates over 150 colleagues lost that day. I am troubled by the politics and the tattered remains of the unity we felt those first few months. But I am heartened by the people I meet each day in my travels and our brave soldiers overseas. I hope we never allow ourselves to forget what a wonderful country we have been given by our forefathers, and I hope we never ever forget all the innocent lives that were lost in an act that was as senseless in it's intent as it was hopeless in its result. Pray for this country and for its leaders, and pray for those whose anger and pain is so all consuming that it motivates unspeakable acts of horror.

leah kropp| 9.14.09 @ 11:28PM

He did and Bailey Button Ugg Boots , having seen what was happening, came to my room. We sat in shocked silence as the unbelievable unfolded before our eyes. What had seemed to be a terrible accident became an act of barbarity as a second airliner flew into the second tower ugg boots sale . The events of that day continued to unfold, but those first minutes remain forever burned in my memory.

David Eshleman| 9.14.09 @ 11:32PM

However as the days events unfolded my plans changed ugg boots uk . I stayed in the house glued to the TV set and calling close relatives.The next day I took my dog for our morning walk which since we live in a small town is mostly in the quiet countryside. I was struck by something absent. Then silence of the sky without any of the contrails left from jets full of folks traveling across our great country. A giant engine had been turned off. It was sad and at the same time made me angrycheap ugg boots . I was and still am angry at the barbarians who in their false sense of righteousness murdered innocent people and tried to destroy a great nation simply because it has the good sense and ability to improve its living conditions.

Osamas Pajamas| 9.14.09 @ 11:52PM

I was dumbfounded as I watched this barbarism unfold --- and the flaming jumpers and hand-holding strangers who took their only reasonable option and leapt to their deaths, and then I recalled the European Jews heading for Jerusalem after WWII, "Never again!" on their lips and in their hearts. I am an atheist, but occasionally I reflect on the ghastly fictional image of Bin Ladin and his admirers nailed for eternity to Mencken's "glittering gates of Hell" and I cheer, "Burn, baby, burn!" Never forget, never forget, never forget.

steven jean-louis| 9.15.09 @ 12:00AM

My day ended with a long drive back home to Winston-Salem, NC. I remember my 12 year old daughter running to the door and into my arms; hugging me tightly, so glad and relieved to have me home. And I thought of the other sons and daughters who would never hug their fathers and mothers again. I thought also of a colleague who worked on the 106 floor and a conversation we had about his two year old, who was now without a dad ugg boots uk . I was sad and I was angry, shocked and stunned ugg boots sale. And then I saw our much maligned president with his arm around a fireman, megaphone in hand, and I felt resolve.

Christopher Holland| 9.15.09 @ 12:24AM

I can remember Palestinians dancing in the streets and handing out sweets to celebrate. I thought that was disgusting and I wondered if Americans would ever forget and forgive. Took them all of five minutes to forget and less time to forgive. I didn't and I can't understand why you did. I would have carpet bombed the sons of bitches, but you decided to give them a country.

Etiquette Man| 9.15.09 @ 4:19AM

leah kropp, David Eshleman, and steven jean-louis

So, you think that a remembrance and cyber-place of mourning of our honored dead is the right place to advertise your stupid, f*****g boots?

You think that interspersing your ads with copied and pasted text from elsewhere will make it okay?

How dare you!

Piss off, you bottom-feeders.

Contemptuously,
EM

Sue| 9.15.09 @ 10:41PM

I was just getting into my car to attend an election council meeting. I heard that a plane had hit the World Trade Center and I immediately thought of Bin Laden and the imprisoned nutjob blind shiek that bombed the tower in 1993. You see, there had been several articles written prior to 1993, one as early as 1982 or 1983, after the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, about the rise in Islamic fanatics.

None of the politicians paid any attention. I did. But I'm just one voice who didn't make a difference. I try to be more vocal today, but get called all kinds of names by the elite politicians.

I'll never forget. And, I'll never be silent again. My difficulty now is that I have a medium for my voice, but the specifics and details are becoming fuzzy with age. There is history with the baby boomers and I hope it will be recorded somewhere so that the next generation will learn to listen and speak out.

aaa| 3.3.10 @ 3:18PM

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