9/11/01

I was home and heard the announcers on TV. I went in to see what all the commotion was all about. I was in total shock. I sat and whatched that for days. I know I will never ever forget that! 

I pray it never happens again!!

I agree that after 911 somehow we lost our way. I think about all those lost in the towers and all the responders that also died during or after, just trying to save lives. 

It still is just heartbreaking today!!!

Connie

We were putting out the afternoon paper at the Grand Rapids Press. Suddenly, the newsroom gang was glued to the TV. I was doing the business pages ... I was just about done. I went over to see what the commotion was and saw the replay of the first jet going into the World Trade Center. The first thing I said was that was no accident. Then the second jet hit. Then we all knew. My boss and the executive editor started making plans to remake the paper. Our top story that day had been this woman in a town called Holland near us who had killed her kids and then burned her house, claiming voices told her to do it. Big story on most days; it got pushed inside. Advertising had to pull all airline ads from the paper; pages got remade. We redid the whole paper as reporters went out and got local reaction. It was just amazing how much work we did from 9 a.m. central time through our three editions until 1 p.m. And then we had a rare morning edition, too, as we came back late at night to put that out. 

I remember crying that afternoon when I got home, so sad for the people who died. And anxious at the terror on our home soil. I remember calling my mom, just wanting to hear her voice. I too remember how united our country was, there were no Democrats or Republicans, just Americans. Too bad that didn't last.