GOD BLESS AMERICA ~ A Tribute to September 11, 2001
It's hard to believe that yesterday was the 6 year anniversary of 9/11... The attack on America when our two World Trade Center towers were crumbled to the ground and thousands of lives were lost. I'll never forget where I was when I heard that a plane had hit the first tower. I called Bob from my cell phone and told him right away. At that time, he was on staff at the Chicago Sun-Times. I had asked him if he thought it was a terrorist attack and he calmly said... "no, it was probably a small plane." Sure enough, by the time I arrived at work, it was evident that we were under attack. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Soon after I arrived, Bob called and told me he was headed to the airport to take the next flight into NYC. I was a nervous wreck and begged him not to go. I know that sounds selfish, but I was so scared as I was watching the devastation all over the news as we were all glued to the TV. As we can all recall how silent our skies were for so many days, his flight was cancelled. All flights were cancelled. When the skies opened up again welcoming the magic of aircrafts, Bob was on the first flight out to LaGuardia airport. I have never asked Bob not to go somewhere, this day I begged him not to go. He went anyway... as a true photojournalist would. I knew he would go. In his mind, he knew he would be safe that the attack was over. I wasn't so sure. He came back a changed man. He said that he had never seen anything more devastating in the U.S. He has covered a lot of newsworthy events and this was far beyond what he had thought it would be. He said it was much more tragic than the TV could portray. I thought what I was seeing on TV was awful... I couldn't image seeing it first hand.
My heart still aches when I think about the loss America suffered... what the people of New York went through. Thankfully, I did not lose anyone close to me or know of anyone who lost somebody. My heart goes out to all of those personally involved. Here are a few photos I could find from Bob's trip without having to dig through storage. God Bless America.
This image was taken in 1986 during one of Bob's trips to New York. This skyline will never be the same without the World Trade Centers towers.
http://www.xanga.com/lastoriafoto/61560692...ss-america.html