I will always remember…

I will always remember where I was that fateful morning.
 

I will always remember that it was a week in to my sophomore year at college.
 

I will always remember being woken up by my roommate as she got home from her first class that morning, as was our routine.
 

I will always remember stretching underneath my cozy down comforter in our newly decorated dorm room in Gorham Hall.
 

I will always remember the cloudless, blue sky and the perfect fall temperature of that day… a cool breeze billowing the soft, white curtain on our window.
 

I will always remember how, when Kara turned on the tv, she immediately started turning up the volume so it took us a minute to realize what was happening because the little green volume meter was covering the news tag.
 

I will always remember our reaction – shock, horror, Kara bracing herself on the dresser – as we realized what was happening.
 

I will always remember that this all happened RIGHT after the second tower had been struck.
 

I will always remember the fear in my mother’s voice when she called me… knowing she couldn’t be with me that day.
 

I will always remember my college friends gathering in front of our tv – some still in their pjs, some coming back from class – as we bonded even more over the tragedy that stood before us.
 

I will always remember our friends finally saying, “we need to go get some breakfast” but as we walked into another friend’s room on our way to the dining hall, news broke that the Pentagon had been hit.  My best friend was in D.C.  I screamed and turned back around to my room to try and call her… it was busy.  For 3 days.
 

I will always remember making the choice to skip my classes that day because I was riveted by the news and literally felt like I couldn’t move.
 

I will always remember watching the towers fall… along with our hope.
 

I will always remember the courage of the passengers on Flight 93… as we imagine what might have been.
 

I will always remember finally leaving my room that evening and going to the Quad where they played “Shrek” for us as a way to keep our minds occupied.  But it was eerie being outside with no air traffic… well, except the one single plane that was flying, keeping surveillance for the local Naval Station.  This was even more eerie.
 

I will always remember only wanting to be with John… but he was an RA and had to be there for his residents.  And they had closed down his campus so no one was allowed on.
 

I will always remember the feelings that my stomach was going to plummet to the ground… or my heart was going to pound out of my chest.
 

I will always remember being old enough to know, yet still young enough to not completely understand.
 

I will always remember being too close to NY to feel safe, yet far enough away that I couldn’t fully comprehend.
 

I will always remember a country united in our grief, our pain and our appreciation and admiration for those we lost that day.
 

I will always remember the salt from my tears as they trickled down my cheeks.
 

I will always remember the warmth from our hugs as we comforted one another.
 

I will always remember the fear that paralyzed us.
 

I will always remember the pride that mobilized us.
 

I will always remember…
 

My favorite photo… 

 

For more iconic photos from that day, click here. I shouldn’t have to warn you that some of them are disturbing.

 

The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom. ~Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor of the City of New York