Where were you....

[TKutchera]

I grew up as a little kid looking up to the sky every time an airplane flew by. Even at the age of 5 my folks knew I wanted to fly airplanes. With their help and some good old fashioned work, i am able to fly airplanes. I chose to do it for a career that I thought was just about flying airplanes and through some good luck and great parents, was able to achieve that dream.

I knew the risks. We all do. Ive been flying now for 32 years. I know 29 people personally that have died in airplane accidents. Some were not their fault. Some were. Ive been called by the NTSB as their former instructor. Not fun.

The 8 pilots that went to work on 9-11-01 were just going to work to do what we all love. Fly airplanes. The 343 NYFD, 23 NYPD, 37 NYPO and 15 EMT's all went to work that morning too to do what they love. They go to work to protect and help us when we need it. Never knowing when they might not come home, but leaving home knowing that they might give their life to save ours. Pilots do not do that. We go fly because we love the freedom, the challenge and the reward. We were trained then to co-operate and graduate and the bad guys wont kill us, they just want us and our passengers for bargaining tools. That all has changed.

As a Volunteer Lieutenant Firefighter/EMT of my local Fire Dept and pilot/owner of the best airplane ever made, I would ask we all take a moment to remember those that went to work to do what they love and never came home. There are still many children, moms and dads who do not get the chance to tell their mom or dad or child I love you because of that day.

This is the best song I think has been written about that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2NXDJ4FabE

Tim

 

[gmores]

Re: Where were you....

Well said Tim.

 

[Airotto370]

Re: Where were you....

Thanks for that Tim. I will always remember the image of my train parking lot with the cars left for weeks by those we lost....

 

[painlesspotter]

Re: Where were you....

--------------
This is the best song I think has been written about that day.------

Thanks Tim, you wrote about what a lot of us who have served are thinking on this day, 9/11.

 

[flyfred3]

Re: Where were you....

Although we are 3-4 thousand miles away the ripples were no less weak here. As well as those that were lost on the day we must also be mindful of those that were lost in the weeks, months, and years since and those that will perish in the coming years from the legacy of this terrible event.

 

[Jamesdub]

Re: Where were you....

Good job Tim,
Hit it right on the head (great song as well).
I was active duty in Germany flying a desk. Very humbling experience when we departed work that day as many ‘concerned’ Germans met us at the gate, some very shaken by the earlier events. Stacks of flowers, candles and a few condolence signs were placed along our security fence. Found a similar show of concern when I made it home and my German landlord was waiting and offered his assistance. This gave my wife and me a strong sense of unity in that we / USA were not in this alone. You remember those initial days just after; we didn’t know what was next. Understandably, we went a bit overboard on the local security but in the back of our minds we wondered - - -was someone waiting out there in the shadows??
My two sons are carrying the sword now, 7 deployments between them (Apache and Kiowa Warrior drivers). God Bless and Clear Skies . . .

 

[CenAir]

Re: Where were you....

Tim

Nice to see your post and remember everyone on that tragic day 9-11 that did there job so well, even though the odds were so much against them and they risked there life's and so many lost there life trying to save others, thats what they do ever day as you know from being a part time FF and I am one too for 31 years and a Lieutenant Firefighter/EMT just like you.

I know those men and women Police Officers, Paramedics, EMT's, First Responders and Fire Fighters saved thousands more people with so many people getting out of the burning buildings before the building collapsed, and we lost 418+ professionals in the fire, but they saved thousands more with there professional efforts despite then raging fire and the odds against them that day, and was very nice to see you post and remembered all of them.

I just want to make this special post and ask everyone one to watch this special video by Michael Israel and it starts out a little slow, and watch it from beginning to the end and about 5 minutes and one of the nicest tributes to Fire Fighters you will ever see, and starts out a little slow and a very nice video you will see watching it to the end.

Michael Israel is a class act and does a lot of charity work too raising money for other good causes, and has a website and sells his paintings reasonably, and highly recommend you look at his website and other charity work and paintings he has done which are all very nice.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFkZiwMLZ4



Mikes Website with some really nice art.


https://michaelisraelgallery.com

 

[TKutchera]

Re: Where were you....

Paul,

Thanks for posting that. Ive seen that too and that guy is amazing. He does that and donates that particular paintings to 9-11 FF funds.

Class act.

Tim

 

[N4843W]

Re: Where were you....

I remember 9/11. This is what I was doing on that day some years before, a much nicer memory. Life goes on.

 

[davloose]

Re: Where were you....

I remember 9/11. This is what I was doing on that day some years before, a much nicer memory. Life goes on.

Your poor wife! Two horrible memories on the same day…