There are days in a persons life - where they can recall the smallest detail, they know exactly where they were when it happened. My mom could tell me everything about the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Someday - I will be able to tell my children about September 11th with the same clarity.

5 years ago today, I was on my way to work. I was on 86th street, just about to cross 24th ave, when the 3 guys on my favorite morning Radio Show announced that a Plane had just crashed into the side of the World Trade Center in NY. At that time, everyone just figured it had been a terrible accident. I remember how sad I felt at that moment. I remember thinking - how the hell could something like that happen? The guys on the radio, also were bewildered, and sad about the news they had just reported. I finished my drive into work - and pulled into my parking spot - then they announced the second plane, hit the second tower.

At this point everyone knew that this was no accident - but no one had any idea what was going on.. and no idea what was to come. I ran into my office… “GUYS!! Did you hear what happened???” Everyone was on edge and nervous as hell. We made one of the ops guys run home and get a TV we could watch. We had to see what was going on. Just hearing about it on the radio - just didn’t make it seem like it was real.

We watched the planes hit the WTC, we watched the aftermath of the plane hit the pentagon, and when flight 93 crashed into that field in PA.

Everyone was nervous and on edge. My office is located between the Mall of America and the MSP Airport, there was talks of evacuating. They did evacuate the Mall, and buildings that were attached or near. They obviously closed down the airport - as they closed all of the airports. So we all just sat, and watched, and waited. I work in the Air freight industry - so when the FAA closed down all Airports and grounded all flights - we were at a stand still. We had to field some phone calls - but for the most part - we watched and listened as the events of the day unfolded.

I don’t ever remember feeling the way I did that day. Especially when the Towers began to fall. I was so heartbroken. The girls in the office were teary eyed, and the boys… silent. I don’t know how many times we watched the planes hittig the towers, or how many times we saw the wreckage of the Pentagon, or the wreckage of flight 93. We couldn’t pull ourselves away - we were all compelled to watch.

So.. this is my tribute to they anniversary - as well as my tribute to just one of the 2996 people that lost their lives that day.

In Memory of Jorge Luis Morron Garcia.
He was 38 years old when he was killed in the World Trade Center.

Please check out 2996 it is a wonderful tribute to the victims of September 11th. They are doing a wonderful thing, and it is my honor to be among one of the people able to contribute.