Yes it changed me. Forever. I added my tears this mornings to the millions out there who watched our memorial this a.m. The sorrow for my country is beyond the scope of words I would write. ginnie

I was saddened and horrified watching the events unfold that day, but changed me?? No, that happened for me a LONG time before 9/11/01.

I guess spending almost 30 years on and around military bases puts me in a different view of "security". When terrorist events occurred around the world, we were always under heightened security measures. So the old saying of being situational aware has been a way of life for us.

But the event that opened my eyes to how vulnerable we could be... the bombing of the Marine barracks in 1983. I lost a very good friend that day. Over the years, with every terrorism attempt around the world and who was usually claiming credit...well I always wondered how long before it came to our shores. They did attempt a few times, but it always seemed to be ignored or quickly forgotten.

I am so sad for those that died that day.

My whole family, my husband, my kids, their wives, my brother and all his family, and my friends and so on and on.. worked in NYC and was right there. I finally found them all late that night, safe, TG.

I had taken the day off for a vacation day to clean the house. As I watched the TV, as it happened, I almost fainted. MY HR dept. was on the 78th floor. I shopped on the lower levels at lunchtime.

We will Never forget.

May God Bless America Always.
.

I have a hard time answering this as well. I was working in a dr's office at the time, and when I came in at 8:30 I hadn't heard any news yet that AM. The horrified tearstained looks on my coworkers faces were such a shock. They had the office stuff under control so I went to the breakroom and watched the news coverage and kept them updated. I was watching when the 2nd plane hit, and when the towers went down. It made me sick at my stomach. I knew immediately that we were now at war, whether it was declared or not.

I had driven in on fumes that morning because I was running late and planned to fill up at lunch. By the time I got my break, mass panic had broken out. Lines of cars were out into the street at every gas station, and many pumps were out of gas. I drove all through town and finally managed to fill up at a station on the outskirts near my home, and only because I had a 4x4 and could drive over the curb to get in line and back out into the street. The police were pulling up just as I left, for crowd control.

What I really remember though, is the unity immediately afterward. Do you remember all the politicians standing on the capitol steps singing "God Bless America"? Now the name of God is politically incorrect again, and I imagine some of those in that group would like to deny even being there. I'm struck often by how soon we, as a people, do forget.