September 11

It's officially September 11. I'm sure that everyone remembers where they were on this day nine years ago.

I was in Sicily working out on the cross trainer and I looked up to see the strangest "movie" that I'd ever seen. Except as we all know it was no movie. It was America, under attack, by terrorists that would like nothing better than to see America destroyed.

I knew where I needed to be, and so to security I went...and the subsequently stayed until I had new orders given to me...8 months later. On top of the time I spent activated because of the USS Cole bombing I was there for a total year and a half out of my 2 year tour.

I was mad and angry at that time. Frustrated that I couldn't do anything and sad that we were now under a new "normal". My first trip back stateside was on my way through to Sacremento and as I got off the plane I sat waiting for my Dad to come to the gate and get me. It was almost 10 at night and a flight attendant saw me and asked if anything was wrong, so I told her what I was doing. She looks at me like I was crazy and when I told her that it was my first trip back to the states from overseas she had to explain the new protocol. No more walks to the gate and lounging about the airport allowed. It makes airport scenes in movies, from 10 years ago, seem antiquated.

I didn't have much to do tonight, but I felt like being creative and so I made this video on my new movie maker. I was inspired in part by the video that the VP of my CWRW club made, and by a request to post a flag picture. I had initially thought of just building a tribute around flags, but decided to use some other photos from that day, not just of the towers, but of the Pentagon as well and then realized half way through that I really wanted it to be for the heroes of that day. The Firemen and Police. The people that served during the event and after, because of it. If you're interested the song is actually called the Twin Towers Lament by Brandon Vance. I had it on a instrumental CD that I bought a while back.

It's 9-11. I'd say enjoy, but that seems a bit morbid so simply remember...And never forget.

Where were you?

Today is an anniversary that I'm sure that we would rather not have. I mean it's not like you can walk around saying Happy 911:P Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I do.

Eight years ago I was in the Navy gym at NAS Sigonella, watching AFN's breaking news (although I didn't know what was breaking at the time because I had my headphones on). I looked up right after the first tower was attacked, so all I saw was flames and having a fairly good memory for movies my recal could not go back to any that had this particular scene in it. That's when I took off my headphones, put on my glasses and read the tickers moving across the bottom of the screen. In that moment the second tower was attatcked and I realized that this was no movie. Of course I would have to all the way on the other side of the base away from my ASF gear, I knew where I was going, T.A.D. . . . AGAIN!

There are few worldwide events in a persons life where they can remember where they were and what they were doing when it occured. There was the deaths of JFK & MLK in the 60's, John Lennon & the attempt on Ronald Regan's life in the 80's, and Pricess Diana & Columbine in the 90's. This unfortunately was one for my generation.

It took me all night for me to convince my watch commanders to let me go back to NAS I, only to come back and be told to report in the morning, so I ended up sleeping that night, and subsequently the following 2 weeks, in AIMD's bunk room. My friend, and regular co-worker, Brian woke me up every morning, since he was the mid check and made sure that the Maintenance control had fresh coffee ready for me (it really is the little things). There was no way I would have wanted to claim a cot and live in Disaster Prep with the rest of the security folks, I already had to see them for 18 hours a day why would I want to sleep with. Of course I was always early to gaurdmount, but for any who have wondered how I did it back then that's how. On the backs and support of my friends. I worked 40 18-20 hour days, in a row, before I got just one glorious day off. Numb, from not processing anything, I sat in front of my TV watching whatever string of movies would try and help me forget about the fact that I still had to return to work the next day, washed my cami's (since it was the only piece of clothing I was wearing during those days), and bought whatever food I could that the Navy wives had left over, and would last me until the next time I got by the Comacery, who knew when that would be.

The events of that single day seemed to start a domino effect that we are still realing from, but the men and women who serve this country on that day, as well as today, and the men and women who rose up out of the rubble to help others who were in need as well should not be forgotten, Flight 93 & The Pentagon as well. It's one of the few times that I can think of where we, as a country, seemed all united in a common cause. Why have people forgotten about that? It's sad. But let us not forget.

If you know someone in the military tell them "Thank You", or hug them if you know them. If you know another public servant do the same thing. We should never wait until tomorrow to say what people need to hear today.

Let me know where you were if you feel so abliged.

OH . . . P.S.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TESS!!!