News

I was talking with my wife after we watched several shows commemorating that awful day. As we watched, I was hit by how horrible and senseless the act was, but at the same time the beautiful way God made us to respond in his bitter sovereignty. What other time in my memory have I seen such bravery, felt such a oneness with my country, such a willingness to sacrifice for who she is and who I hope her to be for my children. I am grateful and sad at the same time.

On that day, 10 years ago, I was working in my home office in Maitland, Florida. This was when I was trying to open a branch there. It was a challenging effort and one that ultimately led me back to Nashville and allowed me to embrace this place as home.

But on 9/11 I was working in my office, and I got a call from my wife to turn on the TV. She was at a Bible study and on her way home. One plane had already hit the tower. We had a friendly yard man named Rudy and he was spraying fertilizer outside. It was a beautiful Florida day. I was awestruck at what I saw. When I had heard that a plane hit the towers, I thought it was a little Cessna or something. But I turned the TV on and then brought Rudy in and we watched the coverage together. We just kept repeating ourselves watching in horror. The rest of the day was just spent watching it all go down. Trying to work, but just deeply disturbed at the same time.

In the next few days I had to travel, I remember the ghostly silence of the airport, walking through the typically busy Orlando airport alone – usually packed with Disney visitors – there were only a few business travellers like myself. I wore my flag lapel pin and did what I could – I was determined terrorists would not stop me from working and using my freedom to do so. I heard a quote from General Stonewall Jackson that said something to the effect that if we believe and trust in God’s plan for us, then we are as safe on the battefield as we are in our beds. I took that to heart and still do as we all travel around this great country doing what we love.

“Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me. Captain, that is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave. “

I was traveling with Julia Covington.  We were vaguely aware of the TV being on in one of the LDR rooms and it barely registered when the Today Show cast announced that a “small plane” had hit the tower.  I remember Julia and me talking about how in the world could a “small plane” get so lost to run into such a building.  We kept punching and hearing more and more about the story as the situation got more and more serious.

After the second plane hit, there was a heavy realization that this was not a little news story and thoughts flooded with increasing intensity and severity.  Could this really be happening? Who is doing this?

Then as the first and then second tower fell we were left only with disbelief and more questions.  What else is going to happen?  Would we be able to get home to see loved ones before anything else happened?

We quickly finished our work and headed back to Nashville wishing we could speed the car just to be with loved ones.  I recall that we called home briefly to make sure our families were ok and get the latest news.  We only had the radio which seemed to repeat the same things over and over.  I remember being somewhat comforted in the repetition because that meant nothing else was happening elsewhere in the country and burdened by the aftermath we knew thousands of people were dealing with and would be dealing with for years to come.

It was a Tuesday morning and we had traveled the night before down I-65 towards Monroeville, Alabama. I had made the road trip with Stephanie Pielich and two other engineers, Adam Schlosser and David Boyd

We had arrived early at Monroe County Hospital to conduct our final punch on the new OB/Surgery Addition. I can only assume that with the 7 hour drive, we had hoped to finish the punch in the AM so we could return to Nashville during that afternoon.

Stephanie and I were working together on the punch and making our way through the spaces. I am unsure at this point how far we had gotten in the punch of the building when we entered the OB department. Once we entered the space, I can clearly recall 2 nurses being in the department, getting things set up for the opening. Equipment was installed, including the TV’s on the wall within the LDRP rooms and the nurse’s had these on…watching the Today Show. While punching the LDRP room, Katie Couric came on the screen indicating that there was news that a small plane had hit one of the twin towers. “a small plane”. I remember that even hearing those words, we were in shock of what had just happened. Shortly though the reports began to come through that it was a much larger plane. We continued to try to complete the job we had come there to do, but it was difficult, from what I remember, to stay focused on anything other than the TV and the breaking news. Punching a room and then returning to check the TV. We were standing there too when the second plane hit. What was happening?

Did we call home? Did I have my cell phone with me? At this point I cannot remember those details. I do recall however that we were still in the facility and standing at the TV’s when the towers fell and the skyline of the City I have loved my entire life would forever be different. Could this have really happened? It was hard to imagine the reality of what we had just seen.

At that point it was time to leave and get back to our families. We began our journey home with only the radio to inform us of the details of the day that would forever change our nation.

Even today as I watch the footage I am moved to tears. I am so moved not only by the terrible things inflicted on our nation but the amazing ways in which people stood up to help their fellow man and the sacrifices they made to prevent further death and destruction. We will never forget this day and the impact these events have had on this nation and to each of us.

I was two weeks into my freshman year of college. My roommate left the TV on when she went to class, and as I was making my breakfast that morning, I was listening to the Today Show cast talking about a plane flying into the World Trade Center. I initially thought it was an elaborate trailer to some high-budget movie. I quickly realized that this was all real. “What a horrible accident.” I thought to myself, as I sat mesmerized in front of the television. Sitting there numb, as smoke poured out of the first tower, I watched as the second plane hit.

As the second tower exploded, my first thought was, “Oh my god, we’re going to war.” I immediately thought of all my 18 year old male friends, and of my two younger brothers. I didn’t know who we would be fighting against, but I knew it was coming. For my humanities class I had just finished reading Tim O’Brien’s book, The Things They Carried, about a platoon of American soldiers struggling in Vietnam. The thought of sending the people I loved into war was terrifying.

The atmosphere on UTC’s campus that fateful day was something I’ll never forget. We were a bunch of kids, getting to be ‘grown-ups’ for the first time. I’m certain I wasn’t the only one who felt like a small child once again, wishing to be safe in the arms of my parents. A silent recognition hung in the air. Our fate, and the fate of our country, had forever been altered that morning.

I was in my 4th year of architecture school at the University of Tennessee on September 11, 2001.  It was a beautiful sunny morning.  My friends and I chatted about nothing too serious as we waited for class to start.  Standing in the Architecture building that morning, we heard the horrific news.  It was so unbelievable I remember asking several people if it was true. Cell phone lines were jammed up as people were trying to call loved ones in the northeast and elsewhere.

Classes were cancelled for the day and two of my friends headed to my apartment with me to watch the news coverage. There was a numbness about the incident that I still remember.  Could this really be happening?  A fellow architecture student told me later that he woke up that morning and turned on the TV to this, not knowing what was already going on, and thought it was a really bad movie.  Who would even imagine the events that were unfolding could be real?

I didn’t have any personal connections to the tragedy, but my heart ached for these people.  The news coverage was graphic and images of that day are still etched in my mind.  I was sitting in my apartment when the first tower fell.  We just watched, silently.  Then minutes later the second tower fell.  It didn’t seem real.  It couldn’t be real.

While I wish it had never happened, I am glad I was old enough to remember this event in history.  I remember thinking that my brother had interviewed for a position in an office in the World Trade Towers earlier that year and I never was so thankful that he did not get that job. I still do not understand the events of this day, but I live each day thankful for what God has given me.