What's your most profound memory of?

Question

9/11?

For me, it was waking up the next day and noticing the picture on the very back page (facing out, not inside the paper) of the St. Pete Times. It was a full page photo of bodies falling from the tower. I remember just breaking down, angry about the truth of the photo, angry that some dad somewhere was reading his paper at the table and knowing his children were looking at that picture from across the table. I know I cried the day before - sat on my couch after leaving work early like everyone else watching CNN and cried. But I wailed when I saw that picture. It was primal, somehow. I felt it all through me, as though I had not breathed for 24 hours and then I did and it all came out in one howl that seemed to last for 10 minutes.

God bless those who died, those who were left behind, those who helped and those who prayed. God bless them all.

****************
I had to delete this the first time I posted because some idiot spammer sent it to the bottom of the list.

Tish, just to let you know, I still consider your 3rd option valid. I think it's entirely possible that it happened, but hearing the phone calls they made to their loved ones, it does seem to mesh up with the timeline (the official account, not the plane being shot down). I hope someday we know.

Answer 1

I was in Southern California at the time. I found out as got into work at 8am... The most profound memory is people helping people. I found out a shoe store started handing out tennis shoes to anyone in need. There were so many stories like that. Americans truly showed their best side at that time. I am from South America and I started thinking: This is the TRUE Americans. These are the good every-day Americans, not the pretty faces Hollywood wants to show the world. There is no Ugly American.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Answer 2

Living in Washington, D.C, I have so many memories of that day..too many to name. Top 3 are...

1. Being scared to death..air raids blaring, fighter jets in the sky. Trying to reach friends/family - lines being jammed.
2. I worked part time at the hospital. When I got to work, the flag was at half-mast. There had to be hundreds of people lined up waiting to give blood, donate clothes/food supporting people who has lost relatives and friends. There was a candle light vigil.
3. This last one is a litte controversial, but I remember that day like it was yesterday, so here goes.. On the radio, the report was that a plane was headed for the white house. More than once I heard the plane would be shot down - and I believe they did...

Answer 3

I heard about it on National Public Radio which I leave on all night I flew out of bed and called my husband in Santa Monica He is a New Yorker and had family in that building When he answered I was shouting go turn on CNN! go now! do it ! he put down the phone and then I heard him saying "Oh my god Oh my gooooood" I couldn't breathe either... I just seemed to exist in space... and time stopped . we held the phones to our ears 'till he said I must call my mother and tell her what has happened...

Answer 4

The pictures of the spectators looking up at the Towers in shock and fear. I was also struck by the diversity of races and the different languages being spoken and yet words couldn't help no matter the language.

Answer 5

well, for me it had to be when I was in the 10th grade, 2nd period, english class, looking out the window (I live in brooklyn) and seeing the explosion from when the plane hit the tower. yeah, that's how profound it was, I still remember details. also the smoke that lasted for weeks on end. truly sad. God bless u

Answer 6

Watching my grandmother die a very painful and agonizing death.... actually contemplating at one point what if I could end her suffering...but, in the end, I let nature take its course. It was brutal, it was a wake up call that life's end is not always pretty or peaceful.

It changed my perception of death.