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| Re: 9/11 Memories... (1650635) | |||
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Re: 9/11 Memories... |
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Posted by cortelyounext on Fri Sep 11 15:45:06 2026, in response to 9/11 Memories..., posted by subfan on Fri Sep 11 09:11:26 2026. Thank you for sharing your post. In my civilian career, I work(ed) in transportation. I was based out of San Francisco and happened to be off that day. I woke up at dawn, showered, got dressed, and turned on CNN without looking as I walked over to the kitchen to make breakfast. I heard something and walked back to see the "Breaking News" with the damaged buildings still standing. It was a typically clear, 70 degree morning in the South Bay down near San Jose where I lived but I never left the apartment for my usual walk that morning.The next day I spoke with my Operations Officer at the USAF squadron I had left earlier that year. Everyone had been recalled and were preparing personal bags and equipment (professional gear), being issued additional mission items, rechecking shot records and such, speaking to the Chaplain, going through deployment briefings, etc. I wished him well and let him get on with it. Fast forward a few days later when my company restarted operations despite aircrews and airplanes being re-positioned. I got to KSFO early and completed flight planning but the inbound was running late. I make no apologies for this but after grabbing a coffee and while walking past our empty gate I absolutely engaged in profiling. As it turned out, there were a couple of bearded men sitting at our gate wearing either a turban or tagiyah I can't remember it doesn't matter. Obviously, I had no idea whether either or both were American citizens, foreign nationals, or what religion, if any, they practiced, among other markers. I cannot remember if I mentioned anything to the Captain or flight attendants beforehand since it was obvious. The flight was uneventful. The industry "collapsed" and I, being a junior FO on the Airbus, was furloughed shortly thereafter. I relocated to Vermont, bought land, and built a home. Around that time, I spent a few days with family in north Jersey and I distinctly remember my father and I decided to head into New York City to spend the day at The Met and Central Park and the West Village. I grew up in New Jersey and worked in the city and so I knew the region like the back of my hand but still prepared myself for what I was about to see when I got on the George Washington Bridge eastbound and the Palisades disappeared behind us. The image I saw took my breath away for a fleeting moment and I mean that literally. It was the void in the skyline. God bless them and those in Washington, D.C. and Shanksville and our soldiers. |
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