Six Years Ago

Editorial in Martinsburg Journal September 11, 2007

It has been six years, and this is the first time the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, falls on a Tuesday, the same day of the week the murderous al-Qaida cowards launched their horrifying attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as their unsuccessful third attack thwarted by brave, patriotic Americans.

The cycle of the years since the attack bringing the week day back to Tuesday will probably sharpen the memories of Sept. 11 for many people. And we all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news.

That Tuesday was a magnificently beautiful fall day with crystal blue skies obscured only by a few great white clouds. The temperature and humidity were low, and it was hard to concentrate on work on such a wonderful day.

Most everyone in the eastern United States had just settled into another work day when the news spread about a catastrophe involving the Twin Towers in New York.

At 8:48 a.m., a passenger jet flew into the North Tower.

Televisions went on and amid the billowing black smoke from the tower that had been struck first, another plane less than 20 minutes later, could be seen flying into the other tower.

Surely everyone realized at that point, it was no accident; we were under attack.

Then we learned that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon setting it ablaze and then that an airplane had crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake the cockpit from the terrorists who had hijacked the jet.

That Tuesday in 2001 also was the United Way’s Day of Caring throughout the tri-county. The Day of Caring always had been scheduled for the second Tuesday in September.

Those volunteers had gone off early in the day to work on several projects around the area not imagining what the day would bring. Many did not hear the news until after finishing their projects.

Of course, today is the Day of Caring sponsored by the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle. A couple thousand individuals, as teams or on their own, will be swarming across the tri-county completing work projects for nonprofit organizations.

United Way’s Day of Caring is a perfect way to honor the innocent men, women and children killed in the crashes and the firefighters and police officers and emergency medical personnel who lost their lives while trying to evacuate the buildings when the Twin Towers collapsed.

The Day of Caring is the perfect way to say we Americans will not be defeated; we will carry on with our way of life; we will be filled with tolerance, equality and care for others less fortunate than ourselves.

On this sixth anniversary, on this Tuesday, let us all take a moment to remember those who paid the ultimate price and for those left behind.

And let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals of the United States of America and vow to continue to reject the kind of intolerance, the kind of totalitarianism, the kind of hate and violence espoused by the terrorists.

We are better than that, and we must rise above their bloody pit of bile and venom.

That is our victory and our salvation.

Section: Editorials    Posted: 9/11/2007