Where Do We Go From Here?

“The September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11, were a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Wahhabi Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.” —Wickipedia

I remember the morning so well, watching the news on the television. I didn’t give it much thought when I saw a small plane traveling across the sky. It was slowly heading for the World Trade Center. As suddenly as it appeared, I watched it close in on the Twin Tower.

I quickly called my grandson, who lived in New York City, across the river from the Twin Towers, and woke him from a good night’s sleep. Just as I was telling him about the news, he saw from his window, as the plane hit the tower. Little did we know the damage and deaths that would follow this terrorist action.

The magnitude of that day, now known as 911—was the worst man-provoked terrorist action that had ever come to America.

Strangely, from that horrendous day, there was a feeling that the citizens of New York became more communicative and friendlier. The mayor of New York had been actively working toward the good of the city and drawing them closer together.
Every day following 911, there were additional sad stories. One lady, who had a nephew who was killed in the bombing of Oklahoma City, was on a plane coming home from Colorado. She said that about a half hour into the flight, the pilot made an announcement, “Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in Oklahoma City.”

The passengers were given no further information. When they landed, passengers were told to retrieve their luggage and make reservations at local hotels for they were filling up quickly.
Television sets at the airport concourse, showed the events of the morning. The minds of the passengers, like the rest of the world, were not yet comprehending the enormity of the situation.

The day of the terrorist attack changed everything, not only in New York City.
Now… September 2021, the residents of New York are often seen with visitors overlooking the site where this tragic event occurred. It is now being re-built. Throughout America there are pieces of the former towers, (taken as reminders).

Similar feelings emanate each year, as we near the anniversary date of 9/11. You get through the day with it on your mind —the lives that were lost, the coming together of citizens still trying to cope, and now, we must add to past happenings, the problems of the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Let’s ALL work together and determine where we go from here!

Kitty Maiden is a staff writer for Seniors Today.