I just went through my September 2009 blog archive and for some reason, I didn’t wrote a post on September 11.
I wonder why.
“Where were you when you heard Kennedy was shot?” is one of the most significant questions for my parents generation and for mine, it will be: “where were you on 9/11?”.
Today is the anniversary of one of the saddest days in America’s history. A day that we will never forget.
Nine years ago terrorists flew two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Both buildings collapsed within two hours, destroying nearby buildings and damaging others. The hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. A fourth plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane, which the hijackers had redirected toward Washington, D.C.
There were no survivors from any of the flights.
In all, 2,974 victims were killed by the September 11, 2001 attacks: 2,750 connected to the World Trade Center, 40 in Pennsylvania and 184 at the Pentagon. Those numbers do not include the 19 hijackers.
The images plastered all over the TV for weeks following the attacks were like something straight out of a movie. They were graphic and sad; each image more haunting than the last… the planes hitting the towers, people jumping out of windows, smoke, flames and debris, frustrated and tired rescue workers and faces of the victims,
As I encountered these images again today, all I could think was how will I ever be able to explain this or any other tragedy to Lucas?
How do you explain the unexplainable? Especially when you don’t understand it yourself. 9/11 is a heartbreaking event and even more so to have to explain to your perfect little human that the world isn’t all as loving as the world inside our home.
Related Posts:
You hit on a very hard part of parenting there, Tonya….those moments when you realize that the world won't seem like a fairy tale for these little ones forever. I hate, hate having to tell my kids things that didn't originate in a garden of flowers or sprinkled in sugar. It sucks.
In time, because you care so much, you will find your own special way to tell Lucas things that are hard to talk about. When we care so much about our kids, it's hard to think about that nasty world that doesn't.
It definitely was a defining turning point in American history and a very very sad day for the world. 🙁 Great post!
Heather from Mommy Only Has Two Hands!
Yes, it was a very sad day. I don't know the best way to explain it. How did our parents and grandparents explain the Holocaust, or Pearl Harbor. Or even the dropping of atom bombs on Japan? Thoughout history, man has done the unexplainable. Again and again. How to explain we have learned nothing.
we were out last night and all the flags were at half-mast. kate asked why they were taking down the flags.
It will be so hard to one day have to explain to LMW why horrible things like 9/11 happened but I am sure that you'll find the words in your way to tell him.