There are certain things that will remain fresh in my mind forever and the events of September 11, 2001 are right up there at the top of the list.

 

On that day, I was at work, as a morning show host on WSRK 103.9fm here in Oneonta. There was a TV in the News Room, which was adjacent to the WSRK studio. I was able to see it from my seat and when I saw footage of a jet crashing into the Twin Towers in New York City, and came right in.

As all of my coworkers and I gathered around the TV to find out what was going on, we all watched live coverage of a camera catching the second plane crashing in the towers. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did that really just happen? Before we all saw that, there was a ton of speculation…an accident? A hijacking gone wrong? No, there was no doubt, it was an act of terrorism. When reports of another plane hitting the Pentagon occurred, you could just see the fear in everyone’s eyes. Everything had changed. I no longer felt safe. That illusion was gone forever.

As I held my six month old daughter that evening, I was very emotionally distraught. I thought, “What kind of world have I brought my daughter in to?”. It was a very difficult time for a while afterward. I think many experienced a great amount of stress, myself included, over the events of that day. Our lives were changed forever, not just in terms with how security at airports and other large venues completely changed, but in terms of how we felt as Americans--no longer invincible and perhaps humbled by that fact. This tragedy taught us how we can come together as a nation, no matter how different we all are and what beliefs we cling to. That’s what gives me hope to this day. The power of the human spirit to still thrive and work together in the face of adversity and realize what’s really important—taking care of each other.

 

More From WZOZ