As the Rev. Dr. Gary Baldwin was detailing the events of Sept. 11, 2001 during his sermon Sunday, I thought about where I was in that moment of tragedy.
Baldwin, a supply priest at Trinity Episcopal Church in Atmore, led a recognition and blessing service for our local first responders on Sunday.
Sitting in the old, wooden pew in one of, if not, the oldest buildings in town, I remembered walking into Fairhope High School’s library, as a senior in high school, and wondering what everybody was talking about.
I heard that the Pentagon was attacked, but didn’t get the full story until after our morning break period.
Walking into my second period class, my teacher already had the TV on to Fox News, and the coverage was striking.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, and what I was hearing at the same time. It’s as if I didn’t want to believe the truth that so many people had died or were about to.
For the rest of the day, that’s all we, as students, thought about.
Every year, we hold events to remember that day and those who lost their lives in the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Many stories have been written, and even a movie has been made as a result.
It was quite nice to be able to participate in memorial services this past weekend in Atmore.
The Billy Glenn Rushing Post 90 of the American Legion held a flagpole dedication, and also honored those lives lost in 9/11; and Trinity Episcopal Church, along with other churches in the area, made sure to remember that day, too.
Last year, on the 14th anniversary of the attacks, ESPN films presented a short documentary called “First Pitch,” which chronicled the time right after 9/11 and the lead up to former President George W. Bush’s opening pitch in Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankees Stadium.
No matter your political preference, the short paints a great picture about how we, as a nation, came together during that time of tragedy and mourning. We became one voice.
From now on, let’s remember that day, not only for those lives lost, but for what’s come as a result.