"You Asked and We Listened"
9.11 Remembered
This blog was originally posted on 9/10/10 at http://lisbethcarter.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/9-11-remembered/
On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger planes and declared war on the United States.
Always Remember. 
The following is my account of that day.
It was a beautiful morning in Boston and I was off on another business trip. Upon arrival to the Logan Airport I ran into many friends
and colleagues – it’s a small world and it seems even smaller in
airports. I remember one friend in particular, I had met him the
previous year during an interview. I remember thinking he was brilliant
and I pondered if I had made a mistake not taking that job. We joked and
he said it wasn’t too late to change my flight and fly to San Francisco
for a “power” conference. It was tempting and I’m blessed that I did
not change my plans.
A great morning continued with an automatic upgrade to first class. I still remember the man who seemed overly frustrated that his friend had
not shown up and that he had to sit next to me. Our flight was second
in position to take off, right behind American Airlines Flight 11 and
before United Flight 175. It was a crystal clear morning as I watched
the other planes out the window, instead of watching the aggravated man
next to me.
Attempting to review the schedules at Networld + Interop, I began to have an uneasy feeling that I could not shake and the aggravated man
next to me was making it worse. The pilot announced, “It’s a clear day
and we are just passing over Manhattan. If you look out the window you
will see….” His voice trailed off as I stared out my window in shock. A
plane had just hit The World Trade Center Tower and smoke was starting
to bellow into the air. I turned to say something to my fellow passenger
only to see an odd smile and hear him say, “It’s a great day for
America” as he got up and went into the bathroom. I wanted to throw up
and I felt my body tense. I turned and continued to stare out the
window.
What took place next is still discombobulated in my head. A series of announcements from a pilot who was clearly in shock. “We are not quite
sure what type of aircraft has hit the tower,” “Ladies and gentleman
we have just learned the tower has been hit by a commercial jet,”
“Please stay calm as we attempt to find out what is happening,” “A
second plane has hit The World Trade Center,” and then something
happened. I tried to reflect on my life, but memories of my father’s
teachings about our Country, my America, rushed into my head. I felt my
core wrench in disbelief upon the realization that something was very
wrong.
As we circled for hours I remember watching and listening to the attendant scrambling through the overhead bin and babbling about a
potential bomb. Was I going to land? Was the bomb on our flight? Why are
they not letting us land? I was stuck and felt helpless.
Upon landing, security escorted everyone off the flight and I learned we were the last plane to land that afternoon. The airport terminal was
eerily quiet and I turned to watch an overhead television broadcast
what I had just witnessed. It was there I learned the American Airline
Flight 11 that had left Boston right before me and the United Flight 175
that had left Boston right after me, had hit the twin towers. Another
plane had flown into the Pentagon and a fourth had crashed in
Pennsylvania. I wept and asked a stranger why I had been spared. The
realization of friends lost that I had just smiled and talked with that
morning and others that worked in the towers, swept over me. Waves of
anger, guilt and grief swept over me as I continued to watch. We were at
war.
It took over a year for me to find the strength to visit Ground Zero and when I did, I wept. Standing at that holy ground, I made peace with
myself and finally felt calm. It was there that I realized that one day I
would find a way to serve and protect our Country.
That day came last November when I announced my bid for the U.S. House of Representatives. I am here to serve, to honor those who serve
and have given their lives to protect. To our troops, our first
responders and those who suffered loss on September 11, 2001 – I am at
your service.
God Bless America and cast out all those who wish to destroy it.
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Comment
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Comment by Michael De-Jesus on September 22, 2010 at 12:37pm -
As a Veteran of the A.F. as cop I thank you for thoughts and devotion to our troops and all involved.
Mike De-Jesus
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Comment by Jo Lynn Haussmann on September 20, 2010 at 10:28pm -
My prayers are with you! I cannot imagine how traumatic that experience had to be! Don't listen to the idiots that can't see beyond their "rose colored glasses" to without a doubt this was a terrorist attack ! We need you in office and I pray the Lord will open wide the doors of support and blessings for you!!!
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Comment by Donna De Sopo on September 20, 2010 at 5:44pm
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Robert Turner--I was a bit taken aback to see you blog in my in box. Where you i NJ, NY or anywhere near the areas struck on 9/11? If not, you will never grasp that day. Additionally, we MUST remember and discuss that day. Common sense dictates that the FIRST thing we should have done (and fail to this day to do) is SHUT THE BOARDERS! We have OTMS (other than Mexicans) passing through the boarder and leaving prayer rugs out in the desert. With the plethora of 52,000 square foot Mosques being built in America that have a new and improved PC name, "community centers", we must bring 9/11 top of mind. We lost >3,000 Americans--and we lost even more that day, the sense of security that those in power can not restore with current policies. Besides, the tone of yuor blog makes me believe that you are a "progressive"--and part of the problem we have in America today.
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Comment by Robert Turner on September 20, 2010 at 2:39pm
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"A
plane had just hit The World Trade Center Tower and smoke was starting
to bellow into the air. I turned to say something to my fellow passenger
only to see an odd smile and hear him say, “It’s a great day for
America” as he got up and went into the bathroom."
The guy next to you actually said "It's a great day for America"? At the the first and even second hit, no one knew what was happening. On the news that day, it was being reported as a "commercial accident" until a couple of hours later.
What did the guy next to you mean? What did you mean by including it in your story? My wife was flying that day. No one on the planes in the air new what was going on. The pilots didn't know.
Your father's teachings about America? What did you mean by that? Are you attempting to imply that you knew the plane crash was a terrorist attack?
I get really tired of hearing folks like you attempt to leverage 9/11 for your own political ambitions. Bringing up the memory of 9/11 while running for political office is distasteful at best. Sure, you may of actually been in the air at the time. We don't know. But stirring the emotions of that day to bring attention to yourself on this blog is despicable. Shame on you.
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Comment by Donna De Sopo on September 20, 2010 at 1:37pm
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This line pops out at me "I wept and asked a stranger why I had been spared." God obviously has big plans for you. People will be called to be "deciples" in these unsettling times. We need true leaders in this party -- as we have found that the old establishment does not serve the will of "the people" but serve those who give them the most money and foresake the health, well-being, and safety of the peolpe they sworn to protect. My heart is full of hope as I look at the women whom, I believe will make a huge difference in following the Constitution and the principles of our founding fathers. Go bless you Liz! I lived in NJ all my life, attended memorials, and to this day cannot wrap my head around 9/11. I moved away weeks later to TN and have been here 9 years now.
We must never forget. And we must help to make sure that it never happens. again.
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Comment by Darlene Raimondi on September 20, 2010 at 11:39am -
Our prayers are with you that you would be among those who stand to secure America and stand against those that are destroying her.
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Comment by Jeanine on September 20, 2010 at 11:12am -
I still tear up when I think of 9/11. I will always remember it and I hope to make a difference as you have. God bless.
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Comment by Linda Maddox on September 20, 2010 at 11:07am
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Now this is the women we need to represent us in Congress! You go Liz Carter, we are standing along side of you! Good Luck, and God Bless!
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