Points2Ponder
By Alan P. Scaglone
Ever have a moment etched in your mind forever—you’ll
never forget where you where when…
I remember exactly where I was…
I was driving to pick up my best friend Ellen
to take her to chemo.She was fighting a losing battle with stomach cancer, but we were determined to stay positive and expect the best.
She was 42…and it was her second round…she had been in remission for 6 months before it all came back.
I had taken time off to be there for her… to take her to her doctor’s appointments, spend days with her, run her errands.
She was the sister I never had… we had known each other since age 11…
And thanks to a supportive wife—I just made myself available to help how I could.
She didn’t have any family here locally, so… I was able to be there for her.
Never ever thought that she would be forever connected to my memory…
Of September 11th, 2001.
I got a call from my ex-wife, asking if I had heard about a plane hitting the twin towers.
Anyone who knows me knows… I LOVE New York City!
I spent a lot time there in my professional life—and I was just an adopted New Yorker!
I picked up Ellen and mentioned the call to her.
We got to her chemo treatment, walking in to a group of cancer patients, their care givers and the nurses…
All huddled around the television in the waiting area.
You have to picture it—most of the cancer patients were already hooked up to their “drip” and had wheeled there stand into the waiting room.
If it weren’t so serious… it would actually be funny!
But… that day… no one was laughing!
As we walked in… someone said “Oh No! they’re going to hit the other tower!”
Ellen and I watched as the second tower was hit by a plane!
We were stunned!
We were scared!
We were united!
We were family!
There were tears.
There were hugs.
There were faces just numb from watching the unthinkable.
It wasn’t an accident!
It wasn’t a misdirected plane!
It wasn’t a mistake!
America was being attacked—with our own commercial airlines!
And then there was confusion as more information was revealed.
The Pentagon!
The field in Pennsylvania!
The scene of the President in Sarasota, Fl—trying to remain composed in front of 3rd graders—while being whispered “the country is under attack!”
We all know now…
All of the events that happened that day.
Flight 93—Let’s Roll!
All of the pictures!
All of the scenes we will never see again—like people jumping from the Twin Towers--- to their deaths!
And the wall of “have you seen them?” – family members desperately hoping to find their missing loved ones.
What started out as over 5000…ended up as 2996, but …they are all our Fallen Heroes!
And today is… the twelfth Commemoration of that Day that Change our Lives Forever!
And each year… at 8:46am and then 9:03am…
Our Nation bows our head, places our hand on our heart…and listens to the ringing of the bell!
Twelve years later…
It’s now called Patriots Day!
We now have the Freedom Tower in place!
We all pause for a moment—and then, go on with our day!
And we have children and grandchildren who have been born since that day…
Who only know about this life changing moment from what they hear from US!
And like history… it sounds like a story or a fable or a tale that is not real, somehow exaggerated for effect!
BUT we who were there—we know—and it’s our JOB to make sure THEY KNOW!
May we never forget the events of that day!
May we never forget the lives lost!
May we never forget the fear, the unity, the determination of this One Nation, Under God…Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for ALL!
May we never forget!
You will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!
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The events of 9/11 will always remain as fresh in the mind as though it were yesterday. We should never forget the sacrifice given by so many families to keep our nation free.
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