It’s the 21st September 11th since that day, which for me—and I’m sure for you—will live in infamy.
Today on Twitter there seemed to be quite a few “where were you” Tweets. A favorite follow of mine, Amy McGrath, posted her story about being called in to her US Marine Corps squadron to be prepared to defend our country from more attacks by air. I wanted to know a bit more so commented, asking for some more details. She replied by re-Tweeting something she shared in 2020:
This caused me to reflect on my morning that day and realize that she and I were not very far apart physically, though what we both were doing couldn’t have been further apart. After watching the horrors of the attacks on the Twin Towers on my TV for a couple hours, I drove to an office in Clairmont Mesa to manage some printing projects, driving past Miramar on the 805.
At pretty much the same time, LtCol McGrath was sitting on a runway pointed towards the Pacific Ocean, prepared to depart over the 805 if it was necessary to bring down any aircraft in the skies of Southern California that might be displaying malign intent.
Amy McGrath went on to finish a distinguished career in the Marine Corps, including being the first woman to pilot an F/A-18 during combat. Since retiring from the military, McGrath has run for Congress twice: once for a seat in the House, the other time to serve in the Senate. But being a Democrat in Kentucky is a significant disadvantage, which she was never able to overcome.
My memories of that first September 11th are as vivid today as ever. Mostly what I recall are the images of First Responders running towards the danger and many of them ultimately gave their lives. In the months and years that followed, the heroics shifted a bit to the men and women of our Armed Forces, who made great sacrifices over the next 20 years while fighting a “war on terror” which really couldn’t be won.
But here we are 21 years later and my gratitude to the people willing to sacrifice in service to our country has never been greater.