9/11

I was very excited that morning.

Kris and I were assigned to train together for the first time. What an opportunity a chance to learn the ropes and new skills with the senior trainer. We had prepared for weeks. We had our agendas, reviews, materials and seating assignments all set.

Yet nothing, nothing could have prepared us, our class or the rest of the world for what was to happen that morning.

Class began at 8:30 a.m. We had done our introductions and preliminary demonstrations of navigation through the system.

I don't remember what time it was when Nancy, a trainee from my prior class came to the door, face white hands trembling to say, "Ken, can I see you?"

"What I happened?" I asked, figuring she had just gotten her first irate phone caller.

"A plane hit the World Trade Center," she replied.

"What?" I went back into the room to hear Kris say she had just got an e-mail from another trainer in Pennsylvania confirming what Nancy had said.

I walked back out to Nancy, "Jesus Christ!"

"I know they are showing it on the TV in the cafeteria," she offered.

I checked with Kris and since it wasn't my time to present. She and I agreed I would go down to see what was going on. Nancy and I stopped at the new hire training room to tell them what had happened.

Nancy and I stood in the cafeteria staring at the smoke billowing from the tower.

"God," she said. "I don't think that was a small plane. How the hell could a plane hit that thing?"

"I don't know ..." I began.

Then it happened. The horror that has become part of the world's memory. The second plane hit the second tower.

A combined and mutual scream arose from those of us watching.

"That was no accident," Nancy said.

"No," I agreed as tears ran down both our faces.

I went back upstairs to tell my class and the other class. Nancy returned to her class to tell them.

I told the class and advised them that we were just going to continue and keep them updated. Inside the sick feeling in my stomach wouldn't stop. I went back down to Nancy's class to find one of the trainees outside the doorway in tears.

Our eyes met.

"My babies father is in there," was all she said.

"Go." was all I said.

None of us could have anticipated the outcome or that by the time this exchange had occurred that one of our co-worker's father had just been killed at the Pentagon.

I really don't remember much after that except for going back into my classroom to hear Kris say, "They are evacuating the Pittsburgh office, a plane just crashed in Pennsylvania."

Everyone who is capable of memory can share there story of where they were, what they saw and what was said on that tragic morning.

Many of us still can't look at the images of that day without bursting into tears.

But what of the aftermath?

Not the war, the rhetoric of politicians or the permanently elevated alert levels.

But those weeks of unity, patriotism and harmony.

Do you remember when silly little things like skin color, wealth, age, sexuality, or even immigration status really didn't matter.

It was there. Maybe for a few hours or even a few days, but for a brief time in America, the divisive politics, prejudices and ignorance stopped.

It took tragedy to bring equality and unity.

Yet as quickly as it came, it disappeared.

On this the sixth anniversary of this horror, let's pause to think about those who were murdered.

Let's remember that these people will never have the chance to argue about immigration, the Iraq war, gay marriage or anything at all.

Let's remember their families. The ones who in morning had their hearts ripped out and have become victims yet again, but this time to the political machine and heartless exploiters like Ann Coulter.

Let us ask if those who died would see the U.S. differently. If they would say that the divisiveness, politics and hate that is the U.S. today is really worth it.

Ask yourself is it worth it? Is it?

It can all disappear so quickly.