September 11- 10 years later

I remember exactly where I was when the planes hit the World Trade Center Towers. I worked at a fast food restaurant and I was there doing the opening prep. We were listening to Rick D in the morning when the broadcast was interrupted for a newsflash that a plane had hit the North Tower.
At that point, they weren't sure if it was an accident, or what had happened. I remember clear as day a voice in my head "This is an attack. This is terrorism."

That day, the TV in the back area of the restaurant remained on, as did the radio in the front area of the restaurant. It was pretty slow that day, and those who came in understood why the radio was on. Customers would tell us how people were responding. One gal worked at a bank nearby and before they closed early for the day she said she had more than a dozen customers, many who were elderly, pulling all of the money out of their accounts.

America had never been in this position before. The closest thing we had experienced was Pearl Harbor, and many like myself, were not alive, or had no memory of that event.

We saw the worst from mankind that day.

More important to me, we saw the best from mankind. Those who selflessly stayed behind to save others. Those who responded with no regard to their own safety. From those who knew it was better to take control of a situation, giving their own lives, and come down in a field, then to let the intended target be hit. From those who volunteered for months afterwards. From the soldiers who fought so this would not happen again, and ultimately gave all. From the way the country came together, united.