As our country celebrates Patriot's Day and remembers 9/11 7 years later, my thoughts go back to that day and the days after. Unlike most Americans, I was not in the United States during the attacks. I was on a Baltic Cruise and was in Stockholm, Sweden that day. I was one of 12 Americans and 25 english speaking people on a Italian cruise boat holding over 500. I remember being at a museum in the afternoon in Stockholm and noticing a lot of the Italian's cell phones ringing. When our English cruise officer came up and told me and my girlfriend at the time that "someone attacked the Pentagon" we both laughed. Who would believe that? As others came up and starting telling us what happened, we realized the truth. By the time we got back on the cruise boat (and I remember noticing a huge change in security by both the boat and docks) and got to a TV, all 4 planes had crashed. My entire perspective came thru BBC, which aired much different coverage than that was in the states. I remember my then girlfriend realizing one of her college friends was working in the Pentagon and trying to track down his status (he was not in the Pentagon for a meeting off-site, but because no one knew, he was listed as missing for a while).
Sept 12th I was in Helsinki, Finland. That was a drab day, not just because of the clouds. Talk about a total change in attitude with everything. Sept 13th I was in St Petersburg, Russia. What an amazing town, but more importantly amazing people. Once people found out we were American, everyone would tell us how they were sorry, devastated, scared, and just interested. I talked with more people about America that day than maybe my whole life before it combined. Seeing every flag in town at half-mast was also amazing.
Sept 14th I was in Talin, Estonia. I remember that day because it was the moment of silence that was held thru Europe. The streets just didn't get quiet. People just didn't stop. I saw cars stop in the middle of the road. Electronic signs were turned off. I remember being brought to tears by how people, half the world away, were taking time to remember the victims. I also remember walking into a little rug store and being told rudely to "Get Out Now" once they heard me speak. As I left, I saw what would become an image so many of would see over the next 7 years ... a giant painting of Osama Bin Laden. I remember it now because just days after, the story was still unfolding.
As the trip ended, we headed to London for a couple days. I remember leaving Heathrow in a cab and the driver asking us if we wanted to see something special. He drove us down the road with many of the embassies ... and I remember being in awe as EVERY SINGLE FLAG was at half mast. It was such a site.
Getting back home was quite a challenge. I know that the day we went home was the first day international flights went into Chicago. For a 2 PM flight, we were told to be at Heathrow at 8 AM. They had sent out tents and setting us aside by flight. We would get checked before entering the building, when we checked luggage, in line to que for security, in security, and getting on the plane. My memory from that flight that will never leave me is seeing the U.S. Air Marshall sitting on the plane ... gun holster OVER the jacket. That set a tone.
These are memories I will remember until the day I die. Unlike other things that have happened seven years ago, I remember the events of 9/11 and the days after with crystal clarity. And I am glad I do. The perspective of being outside the US changed my attitude on the world and so much more.
Today is a day to remember all of those that were killed that day. To remember the price of freedom. No matter what has happened in the 7 years since that day changes that on 9/11/2001, the world changed.
