“Where were you when the world stopped turnin’

That September day?

Were you in the yard with your wife and children

Or workin’ on some stage in L.A.?

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke

Risin’ against that blue sky?

Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor

Or did you just sit down and cry?

Did you weep for the children, they lost their dear loved ones

Pray for the ones who don’t know?

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble

And sob for the ones left below?

Did you burst out with pride for the red, white, and blue

And the heroes who died just doin’ what they do?

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself and what really matters?

Where were you when the world stopped turnin’

That September day?

Teachin’ a class full of innocent children

Or drivin’ down some cold interstate?

Did you feel guilty ’cause you’re a survivor?

In a crowded room did you feel alone?

Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her?

Did you dust off that Bible at home?

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened

Close your eyes and not go to sleep?

Did you notice the sunset for the first time in ages

And speak to some stranger on the street?

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow

Go out and buy you a gun?

Did you turn off that violent old movie you’re watchin’

And turn on I Love Lucy reruns?

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some strangers

Stand in line to give your own blood?

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family

Thank God you had somebody to love?”

-Alan Jackson, Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)

Where were you?

That was the question that I had heard numerous times growing up. “Where were you when they shot JFK?” (something to that effect). Evidently, this was the Baby Boomer generation’s life changing moment. However, sadly, my generation (X) has its defining moment as well. And it was far more devastating.

It was a warm September day. I scurried off to work as I always do. My job at the time was a miserable one as an electrical meter reader for a third party company in Raleigh, NC. I had worked this job since August and, due to a twisted ankle that would not allow me to walk the meters (a job related injury, but the company refused to cover it under worker’s compensation), I was forced to quit in early November. The odd thing about this job was that they hired me without having a route for me to do. So for the first two and a half months I “trained” with various drivers. I remember the one that I was riding with at the time. A very short and skinny man whose mustache was bigger than his body. But his name escapes me. Sorry Large Mustache Short Thin Man.

Large Mustache Short Thin Man and I parked the truck near the Federal Building in downtown that morning and we walked some of the meters on the outskirts of the city. Just a few ones in various businesses. It did not seem like we were gone long. When we returned, there were black unmarked SUV’s swarming the Federal Building like yellow jackets after you run over their nest with a lawnmower. Ask me how I know. I thought that this was odd. What was the commotion about? As we drove away, I noticed an eerie silence and sight in the skies above us. Usually there would be jets flying overhead, seeking to land at the nearest airport. Yet… there was nothing. Large Mustache Short Thin Man decided to reach down and turn on the radio.

It was difficult to process what I was hearing. EVERY station had silenced the rock, rap, and country. All I heard were voices. Frantic. Something about a jet crashing into a building. “Is this not something that can wait until the regular news? A plane crashing into a building is not rare!” I thought that it was odd that at this moment on this day, the music died. Then I remember hearing reports. Two jets crashing into The World Trade Center. Mass confusion. How can two jets accidentally crash into two buildings?

As we went into the roughest part of town, I noticed that it seemed that all of the residents were out in the streets. Walking like dazed zombies. Thugs were staring us down. Prostitutes were screaming at us. I remember thinking “I’m gonna die on my birthday!?” I wondered why everyone was out. Then speculation ran wild. “Are more jets going to crash? If so, where?” I kept looking up at the sky through the windshield. Watching for the sky to fall. What on earth was going on?

As the day carried on, there were reports of two more jets that were forced to the ground. One at The Pentagon, the other in a vacant field. The latter believed to be targeting either The Capitol or The White House. Then the buildings collapsed. The sheer panic and emotion that I was hearing over the airwaves. No visuals. Just pure chaos.

I was very troubled throughout the day. No one on the airwaves knew what was going on. Were we under attack? No one had the answers. But after subsequent jets had fallen, it had become obvious to America that this was not a coincidence. I’m looking over at Yosemite Sam like “Are you hearing this? Oh my God!!!” He seemed to care less. He periodically thumbed through the dials, trying to find Hank Williams. He didn’t speak a word that day. Maybe he too was trying to put it all into place.

When we arrived at the office, I remember seeing our receptionist sitting in the breakroom with her tear soaked eyes fixated on the black and white TV. She was hysterical. I had to leave and get home to my Bride. It is times like these that make all us want to leave the worthless things in life and rush home to embrace our loved ones. 

When I arrived home, I was greeted by decorations and a “Happy Birthday!!!”. But it seemed surreal at this point to even have a birthday. She had walked to the Dollar General across from our apartment to get a few things on our sickeningly tight newlywed budget. So tight that we did not own a TV. So she too was listening in on the chaos. We did at least have a stereo. We made the decision to go down the road to the in-laws. They at least had a TV. AND cable.

I will never forget the images. The planes driving through the buildings. The explosions. The fire. The smoke. The collapse. The debris and the gray people running in panic. But worst of all, I will never forget watching people jump to their death. Given the choice between being burned alive, and a quick impact on the pavement below. Of course, in time, they would have succumbed to the collapse. For many in the buildings, living was not an option. In all honesty, I don’t think that I could have done it. But on that day, nearly three thousand more died. And millions died on the inside.

Pearl Harbor and the assassination of John F. Kennedy paled in comparison.

In time we learned. Terrorists. Osama Bin Laden. Al-Qaeda. It all started coming together. While we slept, they planned. We were taking life for granted, while they plotted to take life.

But the greatest memory that I have of that event was actually very beautiful. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. American Patriotism came to life. I remember Washington standing on the steps of The Capitol, singing “God Bless America”. I remember American flags going up in droves. Entire streets lined with them. So much so that the local newspaper printed an American flag insert for those that did not own a flag. That they may tape it up in the window of their choosing. Patriotic songs of old found new life on the airwaves. Lee Greenwood became a household name again. And new anthems were written. Not just for the first time in my life did I see such a profound display of Patriotism sweep across the land, but it was the first time that I had witnessed that we, The American, became one people. 

Not Democrat. Not Republican. Not White. Not Black. Not Asian. Not Mexican. We were one people united together. Against terrorism. For each other.

I remember neighbors helping neighbors. Everyone being a bit more nicer to each other. Fall festivals had a different vibe to it. I remember young men signing up for the military to defend our nation, that this would not happen again. Also, that they would greet whoever did this with vengeance.

I stand with pride knowing that I had witnessed the greatest moment in American history, born from the greatest tragedy. Seeing with my own eyes that we had become one nation, under God. It is something that I can tell my grandchildren, in which case, after watching the news, would reply “Yeah right, Papaw! (We think Papaw has dementia)”. We took pride in our country. People even revisited God. Some looking for answers. Some being shocked back into a relationship with Him. I remember the following Sunday our church was at standing room only. And it seated many. But, in time, the church attendance went back to normal. The Stars and Stripes were lowered. Even though 9/11 was forever seared into our minds, Life returned to normal. 

Life changed on September 11th, 2001. America changed.

Sadly, this is no longer our story. I am convinced that if we had another 9/11 style event in our country, that the outcome would be far different. The Left would blame The Right, and vice versa. Anyone claiming that Islamic terrorism is of concern would be labeled “racist”, “xenophobic”, or “Nazi”. Sympathizers would rally in the streets in support of the perpetrators who, in fact, are the real victims. The people that hate America would cheer, saying that such a tragedy is well deserved. They would find a way to blame it on Capitalism, or The Patriarchy. Or maybe it is The White Man’s fault. Somehow it would be Donald Trump’s fault, even if he is out of office or deceased at the time. The Left would argue that this exact thing is evidence that we need stricter gun control. Even if the terrorists used vehicles once again. Politicians that support the terrorist attacks (most of which would be from a certain region and religion) would be elected into our seats of power. The Patriots would raise their flags yet again, only to have Antifa tear them down and set them ablaze. And you can be certain that rioting and looting would transpire. 

Look how far we have come in twenty five years. Look at what we have learned. Oh, how we have forgotten!