9/11: A Tribute

John G. Farrell, age 32.

Place killed: World Trade Center. Resident of New York, N.Y. (USA).

-----------------------

I am 34 years old myself. I have three children. I cannot comprehend the pain this child must endure knowing that her father will never return in this lifetime.

As a Mormon, I have very strong feelings about the eternal nature of families. But I imagine that even the promise of that bond and reunion is not enough to assuage the feelings of loss from the tragic events that occured 5 years ago.

I was sitting at home, readying some Monday preparations before I headed into work. I live just 35 minutes outside of DC and about 10 miles from Dulles airport itself.

I turned on the TV just as the second airplane hit the second tower. I could not believe what I was witnessing. I could not fathom it's impact.

My wife had left for an appointment at the school. I tried frantically to raise her on the phone. Next, I called my parents in California. It was still very early there... but they realized the import of the news instantly.

When the first tower fell I fell to the floor myself in a fervant outloud prayer.

Word came shortly after that about the Pentagon. Airplanes were circling the air above me. My wife finally called and I struggled to tell her what was going on. Her first reaction was one of relief (she thought my difficulty in explaining what happened had something to do with the kids - that some tragedy had befallen them. The timing of my conversation with her eased her shock - but only just).

My shock was still very raw.

And it still is.

I did not know anyone directly who died on 9/11. I knew Todd Beamer's sister and grieved for her. A colleague at work had in-laws who both died at the Pentagon. Word travelled that 2 members of the Church (both millitary officers) had died at the Pentagon.

But in the end, I had no direct tragedy, except that this was my country too. And, we all lost something that day.

But we gained perspective as well. Something we could use a little more of today.

Join me this day in honoring those who fell.