By J1 Reporter Hannah Reichmuth

When Americans think about 9/11 they think about the day, the after, the damage. But what was life like beforehand? Brian Thompson describes his life before the day, saying his life was pretty good. He had been freshly married, just started his career and life was a clean slate, a new start. But when 9/11 came it had changed lives for everyone, including Brian. That day he had been going to board a flight to Virginia. That plane that he was boarding was the plane just behind the one that crashed into the pentagon, sending them to a holt like all aircraft’s that day.

He describes the day as being very surreal, he hadn’t really known what was going on because he and his coworkers at the time had been escorted into a building that became in a way a sort of confinement. In the building, there were no TVs or anything for that matter that could tell him what was really going on, so he was pretty confused, shocked and worried. Brian had not been allowed to call or be in contact with anyone for their time being in the area, and just like all the other Americans out there, he was anxious for what would happen. He even told me a story stating how there had been a car that pulled up in front of the building and no one had known who it was. There were even men holding their rifles towards the car because they had no idea who or what the person’s intentions were, although in the end no one had been harmed and the person was not an intruder.

 He worried for his family, friends and loved ones who were at home waiting for his call that he was alright. Unfortunately, by the time he had gotten the chance to be able to call them, he had to wait in a long line of people who were all hoping to give the same call. Brian says the reality of it all, “By the time I had gotten out I had to wait in a line that everyone else did, all waiting to get a call that some might wish they’d never gotten.” How many times does a person sit at home worried after their family member wasn’t home around the time they’d said, just wanting that call that they were still alright? What if one of those times they’d never get that call, but instead a call from the police department, hearing the worst news possible. That was the reality of that horrible day, a reality that Americans hope to never see again.

Thompson states that he knew people from his high school that had been in the world trade towers that day, four who had unfortunately passed in the towers. He says he remembers one of them, a girl who had been a freshman when he was a junior, a very sweet and popular girl. Everyone knew someone that knew someone that had been affected by the events of 9/11. It was a tragic day for all and Americans will never forget it nor its effects. Brian reveals that he and a few of his friends had gone to New York and while he was there he saw ground zero. He was the only one allowed to go see the grounds at the time, and he explains just how surreal it had been. Brian remembers life before the day, “In my whole life I had never walked a block alone in New York.” His whole life he hadn’t ever really been alone in New York, honestly most times people aren’t, and his first time it had been a scary and terrifying experience. The night hasn’t gone unnoticed by Thompson, who doesn’t wish to ever go back to ground zero because of the way he felt that night.

 He knows it is very important that all know about 9/11, especially generations who hadn’t experienced it because we need to try and not make that mistake again. Although he also recognizes the fact that we can’t be mad at a whole group of people, he explains how many were angry at those who were of Middle Eastern descent, but we cannot blame a people for the acts of others. Brian explains how he has kids who he coaches wrestling to who came to the Eastern coast after the Afghanistan war. He loves them and can’t understand how someone could blame such sweet kids, “There’s some of the nicest kids I have ever met who have tattoos and they’re 12, 13 years old.” Blaming someone because of your hurt will never solve the problem, it will only create problems for the other person. If we do not acknowledge the day of 9/11 we will not grow or learn and that is the most important part of remembering that day.

Thank you for the story about 9/11 and all of its effects, Never Forget

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