'History Was Being Made'

Hot, sweaty I came in from a 10-minute run. Wiping my forehead and drinking a large glass of water, I'd neglected to turn off the TV. Absently I observed as the morning show hosts flashed the live picture of the first tower with a large gaping hole. Flames shot from the opening. As we watched, another plane plowed into the second tower. There was a gut wrenching realization that this was a terrorist attack. What I didn't know was that within a few hours I would watch in horror as both towers collapsed. All doubt regarding a systematic attack was erased when news cameras quickly craned on the Pentagon attack. Then the Pennsylvania crash was recorded. Moment by moment, I realized that history was being made. For the first time, the entire world watched as buildings crumbled and planes crashed, dragging our nation into an extended, brutal war.

Linda G. Howard, "A Simple Life, A Childlike Faith"