Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

Many of us remember clearly where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. First responders put their lives on the line and many people lost loved ones. Shock and uncertainty poured over this country, unsettling us and becoming indelibly ingrained in our memories.

LMI employees shared their experiences from that day. Each story offers a different perspective and further proves that, no matter where you were, this event was unforgettable.

9/11: We're ok

Christine Pommerening | Sr. Consultant, Policy

Living less than a mile from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and studying at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia at the time, I was driving into the office just after 9:00 a.m. The radio was on but I wasn't paying much attention until the program kept being interrupted with reports of New York, the World Trade Center, planes, and terrorism. It was clear an attack had happened.

When I arrived in Fairfax at 9:45 a.m., the receptionist said, “It’s starting here too, at the Pentagon.” I told her it’s a misunderstanding. It’s not the Pentagon; it’s the World Trade Center. I had just driven past the Pentagon and it was fine. Except it wasn’t anymore. Like my colleagues, the first thing I did was try to reach family to tell them I am ok and away from danger—a big relief to my parents in Germany, as all they saw were pictures of burning buildings and people trying to get out of D.C. Everyone was certain the next target would be in D.C., the White House or the Capitol, which indeed would have happened had it not been for the passengers bringing down that fourth plane.

I spent the rest of the day staring at a little portable TV and the very slow internet. Around 4:00 p.m., I drove back into D.C., on an almost-deserted interstate past a still-smoldering Pentagon. That night I walked over to the Capitol, where hundreds of people had gathered, some with candles, some with flags, some singing God Bless America, some just standing in silence. As terrible as this day was, I knew then we’d really be ok.

United We Stand

Sean Perch | Consultant, Systems Engineering

I was a Safety Service Patroller for VDOT when 9/11 happened. I had just come off shift and was at home trying to relax before bed when my wife called to ask if I had heard the news: a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. I turned on the news and watched the replay of that first plane hitting the tower. I remember the horror and dread I felt, praying I was wrong as I told my wife that it was no accident. No sooner had I said this than live I watched the second plane hit the other tower. Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep. I was angry, scared, and concerned for my loved ones. But I recall the most important thing to come out of that tragic day, which thankfully overshadows all the negative recollections: unity of purpose.

I went to work that night as usual from 0000 to 1000. I saw the gaping hole in the Pentagon from the VDOT yard across from the Navy Annex as I prepared my truck for that day. I smelled the burning jet fuel that hung in the air for two weeks. But as the quiet night gave way to the morning rush hour, I was astounded at what I saw on the road: people being courteous to one another on I-66 instead of jockeying to be first and prevent anyone else from getting in front of them as is normal. American flags flowing from the beds of trucks and windows of sedans and SUVs. Congress standing on the steps of the Capitol singing God Bless America.

This memory is important to me because at a time when our country seems so divided, when emotions are running high for a variety of reasons, I know it is possible to put our differences aside to focus on what truly is our enemy rather than those of differing or opposing views. We came together despite our differences when faced with crises before, so I know we can do it again. There will never be agreement across the board between every citizen, but that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. Let’s do our part as citizens to remember that we are strongest when despite our differences we work together, compromising together on our differences, to reach an effective solution to the problem in order to move forward. We are stronger when we recognize we all want prosperity and happiness for ourselves and belong in our nation. We just need to remember that we can only achieve that if we are all willing to work together.

From one of the darkest days in American history comes hope.

One Educator’s Reflections

Barbara Buckner | Sr. Consultant, Technical Training

Twenty-two years ago, 246 people went to sleep in preparation for their morning flights. 2,606 people went to sleep in preparation for work in the morning. 343 firefighters went to sleep in preparation for their morning shift. 60 police officers went to sleep in preparation for morning patrol. 8 paramedics went to sleep in preparation for the morning shift of saving lives. None of them saw past 10:00am on September 11, 2001.

That morning, I was teaching a high school science class when another teacher stepped into my room and turned on my TV without saying a word. As we watched the replays of Tower One in complete disbelief, the 2nd plane hit. As things continued to unfold, I created a timeline on the board. I remember the enormity of the FAA grounding all planes as it removed any hope that this wasn’t real and the stark reality and fear of just how bad things could still become. I proceeded to process with each class that day as we reviewed the timeline and just talked. That night I was teaching an evening class at a local university. While classes weren’t cancelled, administration did suspend the academic content and encouraged the class time to be taken for students to talk and have a time of prayer and reflection. I think that meant more to me than it did to my students that night.

While 9/11 will always be a reminder of a dark day for our country, I will always remember how much our nation rallied in support of each other. It was about flags and freedom. It was about comfort and care. It was about being the UNITED States of America regardless of race, creed, religion, and so much more.

Reflecting on that day and the days that followed, may we all live and enjoy the breaths we take today and that tonight before we go to sleep in preparation for life tomorrow, kiss the ones you love, snuggle a little tighter, and never take one second of your life for granted.

Never forget. 9.11.2001 🇺🇸