September 9, 2011
September 11, 2001: Remembering praying forgiving
A U.S. flag is posted in the rubble of the World Trade Center Sept. 13, 2001, in New York, two days after the terrorist attacks. Sept. 11 this year marks the the 10th anniversary of the attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people in New York City and Shanksville, Pa., and at the Pentagon. (CNS photo/Beth Kaiser, Reuters)
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
The September 11 terrorist attacks changed our lives, and 10 years later, the wounds are still tender.
A day I will never forget
Missy McNabb is a religion and language arts teacher at Corpus Christi School in Evansville. She remembers being “saddened to the core” as she watched the day unfold.
“September 11 is a day I will never forget. The utter lack of respect for human life brought me to tears. It was immensely clear that human life was not considered sacred; this saddened me to the core.”
The day our world changed
Lori Mendel, a teacher at St. Bernard School in Rockport, says it was the “day our world changed.”
She said, “I started teaching kindergarten at St. Bernard in August of 2001. This was my first full-time position, and I was very nervous.
“On the morning of September 11, our principal at the time, Mrs. Paula Lattner, came down to my room and asked me to step out in to the hallway. As a first-year teacher, I was afraid I had already done something wrong, or had upset a parent.
“She proceeded to tell me about the first plane that had hit the World Trade Center. At the time, they were not sure if it was an attack, or just a horrible accident. She asked me not to tell the kids anything. At morning recess, I had a break, so I went into her office to watch what was happening on the news. Of course, they were streaming it live.
“Paula and I then watched the second plane hit the towers. I thought it was a replay of the first plane, but Paula gasped and said it was a second plane. We were horrified. We knew it was an attack on our nation, and that we had just witnessed hundreds die. I then had to gather my strength to become the ‘chipper’ kindergarten teacher that every child deserves.”
She remembers that “by the end of the day, we had to sit down with our class to tell them what had happened. I remember it was so hard to explain to little ones why someone would want to do that to others. The next few days held lots of difficult questions from kindergarten. I even had a few that were role-playing what they had seen on TV in the block center.
“I felt very blessed that I could work in a school that could pray for those that were suffering at the time. Those kindergartners are now sophomores in high school. I always think about how our world changed when they were only in kindergarten.”
We could not comprehend
How could such a horrible thing happen? That’s what Kathy (Brosmer) Bachman asked. She’s a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Jasper, and remembers “our eyes and ears were glued to the TV and to the radio as that unfathomable day unfolded. How could such a horrible thing happen? How could those people survive in such a horrific fireball? The news that week carried the continued suffering and conclusions of the attack.
“The Sunday after September 11 my sister and I cantored at Mass at St. Celestine. My family had gathered to remember the anniversary on the 16th of our father’s death. The songs were chosen by the diocese and were many of the songs that were sung at dad’s funeral in 1983. Some of the songs were centered on peace and healing.
“Later my brothers and sisters and families gathered at mom’s for a lunch and talked about all the horrors that had unfolded that week. We could not comprehend what all those suffering families could be going through.”
The horror of September 11 “came home to us on September 17 when my 20-year-old nephew, Nick Knies, was killed in a car accident on his way to school that morning.
“He had spoken to his mother about the possibility of a war that week of September 11 and was frightened by the uncertainty of what the future would hold. It deeply troubled him. His sudden death brought sadness up front to us and we felt the pain of death much like those in New York, Washing-ton and Pennsylvania did.
“This year we will gather to remember dad (Roman Bros-mer) and Nick and say those stories that we have of them. We will share what their lives meant to us — just as all those September 11 families will be doing, too.”
She added, “May all rest in peace.”
Like nothing I ever felt before
Father Gary Kaiser, pastor at Precious Blood Church in Jasper, said September 11 was “like nothing I ever felt before.”
He said, “Growing up I recall people saying, ‘Do you remember where you were when Kennedy was shot?’
“All the adults in the room couldn’t stop talking. I could not relate to that experience until September 11. I was in seminary. I had returned to my room after morning prayer and headed to Early Church History class.
“A good friend of mine, David, ran into my room shaken. He said, ‘They hit the Twin Towers. You gotta see this.’ Running into his room we watched live. The shock and horror of the anchors and the feeling within was nothing like I ever felt before. The seminary gathered for prayer at Mass and then later for a prayer service.
“Father Nathaniel spoke of the tragedy in a homily. Honestly, September 11 changed my life and all of our lives. Every year on September 11, I call my friend, and we recall that day and give thanks for the blessings in life, like friends, family and most importantly God. May God bless America!!!”
My heart sank
Joan Miller said, “My heart sank,” at the news of the terrorist attacks that day.
She’s an English and health teacher at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, and remembers, “I had just come back from administering the ISTEP to sophomores in another part of the building here at Memorial.
“I walked into my homeroom and my senior boys were crying. A few of them were throwing things against the walls. I had no idea what had just happened.
“They had already turned on the TV in the homeroom. My heart sank. I wondered what the future held for the then 18-year-old boys in the room. Some were wanting to enlist that very moment. No college class had ever prepared me for that day.”
We do not know the day
Marianne Webster said the September 11 attacks “were a reminder that we do not know the day or hour.”
“The September 11 attacks changed my life by igniting a greater appreciation for God, life and family. The Angel of Death’s message is always to be ready.
“We do not know the day or hour of our own death or the death of those we love. Have I spoken to others as if that was the last thing I would ever say to that person? Would I really hold that grudge or get that angry if I knew I would not have time to make-up? Do I kneel in prayer at the start of everyday or just on Sunday?
“Those people who lost their lives will never be forgotten by those that loved them. Mine is not to ignore or forget the message of that day.”
We have the same Father
Ten years after the September 11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., Deacon David McDaniel from Holy Family Church in Jasper, writes of forgiveness.
He noted that “events of and in this world can frighten our faith,” adding that “most of our uncharitable conversations do not take place during Mass. It is after Mass, in the parking lot. In the real world . . . so to speak. That is where our faith is tested.
“The events of September 11 exposed us to situations that frightened us. Made our faith seem small and insignificant . . . compared to fire and explosions.”
He questioned, “How can rosary beads sanctify collapsing buildings? Or, the Eucharist help to put defensive armament in place around me. They are worthless in this situation.”
He said, “I found no resolution to my unsettledness until I prayed for those who had caused my faith to doubt. Those who we called terrorists, those who caused me to exhibit stupefied Christianity.
“I remembered what I had in common with those individuals . . . we have the same Father.
“I began to pray, the same words over and over . . . ‘forgive them, for they know not what they do. . . . forgive them Father . . . . ‘”
He said that “the events of and in the world, on that day . . . no longer frightened my faith . . . the breakability of the chain uniting the rosary beads is held by human hands . . . the frail, thin wafer of bread at Mass, is elevated by human hands . . . .
“My own hands, clenched in fists, demanding retribution, demanding more destruction . . . opened. And came together again . . . palm against palm . . . finger tip against finger tip.
“I added to my prayer . . . and forgive me . . . Father.”