In honor of the 20th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001, I did a lone flag walk with one of my vintage flags through the city of Whittier. The reception was a very enthusiastic one, with over 200 individual honks, waves, salutes, and cheers... I was even fortunate enough to have a brief conversation with someone whose family had ties to the event that took place in New York. . . On September 11th, 2001, I was only 13 years old. Early that morning I was getting ready for school and was bothered my parents wouldn't switch the news off so I could watch cartoons... From what I saw it just seemed as if a fire was burning inside the building. I didn't see what the fuss over a fire was about... I wanted to watch cartoons! Though this is comical looking back on it.... I couldn't tell you what show it was I wanted to watch... But I CAN tell you the reaction I had when I saw the second plane enter the camera and slam into the south Tower of the World Trade Center... The screams of terrified New Yorkers heard even from that distance. My eyes widened...and I dropped the spoon I'd been eating breakfast with. My Grandfather was a WW2 vet, so I had a fairly advanced idea of war, terrorism, and a general 'Good guy, bad guy,' understanding. . Of the most powerful memories I have there was one guy, who, even now, chokes me up as I remember.... This man had been trapped and broke a window, on the North Tower I believe... He began climbing down!! wedging his back against one concrete columns and his feet against the other... This man was hundreds of feet up!!! Nothing below him!! We held our breath as the camera transfixed as the camera followed him. He' gonna make it!! He was below the fire and trying to break the glass of a window then crawl BACK inside to safety... He slipped...I shut my eyes when I saw him clutch the sky and plunge out of frame. That image.... I'll remember till the day I die and I can never watch the shots of this man ever again... I can't. . Though 20yrs have passed, some memories NEVER fade. . #september11 #worldtradecenter #rememberseptember #911 #memories #godblessthefallen #flag #iremember #neverforget #neverforget911 #painfulmemories https://www.instagram.com/p/CTvWESUPByS/?utm_medium=tumblr
