BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS OWNER
So many memories and photos are popping up about this day 19 years ago. I am sharing mine below, and encourage our readers to do the same in the comments on our Facebook page. A lot of us have vivid memories of where we were, exactly what we were doing when we first heard word of the terrorist attacks.
But as for this photo – It was posted by Buck Lawson with the caption, “In the bottom of this photo, you can see Ladder 118 crossing over the Brooklyn Bridge on their way to the World Trade Center. This is their last known photo. Every single firefighter on that truck perished just a few minutes later. We vowed to never forget. Unfortunately, so many have.”
That morning was gorgeous in Ennis, Texas. I was driving into work at the Ennis Daily News where I was editor at that time. I had the windows down and was singing along to the radio. I switched over to talk radio and heard the DJs start joking about a private plane that had somehow struck one of the World Trade Center towers. They made a lot of jokes. They cut off abruptly and it was radio silence for a minute or so.
When they returned they apologized profusely, saying it was in fact an airliner, but no details were available.
By the time I made it into the office most of the staff was in front of the television in the news room. Little by little we realized this was no accident. We watched as the second plane hit, some screams and cries went out, drawing the guys from the press room to come running in.
We knew that several Ennis residents were in New York City at the time and started reaching out to their families. I remember that one of the business owners in Ennis was there, and we were able to make contact with her. She told us that she had gone to donate blood in the wake of what she assumed would be horrendous injuries. But no one was there. She passed hospitals where doctors and nurses with gurneys were outside waiting for patients that never came.
I made my way to the Ennis Police Department and watched with some detectives and officers as the first tower fell. I watched the second one fall back at the office. It was all completely surreal. Meanwhile President Bush’s plane had landed in my home state of Louisiana at Barksdale Air Force Base. Absolute panic was setting in as parents raced to schools to check out their kids.
The day really is a blur after the realization of what had truly happened. I was in full reporter mode, checking on friends and families. Auto-pilot really is the best term. It just didn’t seem real.
That night when I finally made it home very late, I found a photo in my son Charlie’s book bag his teacher had sent with him after school. She had attached a note. She told me that as word spread of what had happened that morning, the teachers gathered the 5-and 6-year olds in a circle on the floor to explain as gently as possible what was happening. As the kids were sitting in the circle, Charlie got up and walked over to the United States flag that was in the corner. He knelt beside it and started praying. He was only 5-years-old, but he had enough understanding of what was happening to pray. One of my prouder moments, I guarantee you.
In the months that followed there was a surge of American pride, flags flying everywhere, an appreciation for first responders like never seen in my lifetime.
I find it horrible that in 19 short years so many have forgotten. So, please share your stories of that day with us. We need to remember and NEVER forget.
Sarah Stephens can be reached at [email protected].
