September 13, 2017 at 11:12 a.m.
Hard memories
By J. Patrick Reilly-preilly@thedodgevillechronicle.com
Sixteen years ago Monday I received a phone call while I was getting ready to go to work.
"If you are not watching CNN, turn it on right now!" the voice said.
I wasn't watching anything at the time but I did as I was told...just in time to see the second plane hit the Twin Towers. As I watched, thousands were losing their lives both there and in a field in Pennsylvania where some heroic passengers forced a third hijacked plane to crash.
Everyone in America had their lives change that day and September 11 became a date that will be remembered forever. America mourned then and the mourning continues.
Heroes were made that day, running into darkness with the goal to help.
Not only were innocent civilian lives lost that day there were also first responders, police, firefighters and military who died trying to help others.
It is hard to think about and hard to wonder why someone would want to viscously attack and kill the innocent.
Our leadership stood strong that day and hope slowly returned. Is everything back to normal?
Not by a longshot.
But we proved one thing that day and in the days following.
In the face of terrorism, in the face of danger, we will not turn away.
God Bless America.