My 9/11 Story - Where were you?

Like so many others ten years ago, I have a story about where I was on the day that changed our US history.  Ten years ago, my wonderful husband was serving in the armed forces.  We were stationed in California where we lived on base at Edwards Air Force Base.

As we did every morning, my husband and I got up early, roused the kids from bed and began our morning routine of getting them off to school (two of which were right across the street from our base house).  Then, a little later, he would go to work on the other side of the base from where we lived.  This morning, I followed him outside to say goodbye and our neighbor across, who was also coming out to go to work, asked if we knew what was going on.  We said we didn't.  He advised us to go back inside and turn on the news.  We looked at each other, confused.  In California, there was a high speed chase about every other day that was televised on live tv.  We thought this might be it but were confused as to why we should watch it.

The first channel that came up on the tv showed the towers with the first tower smoking and in flames.  At first, we didn't realize what we were seeing.  There appeared to be so much confusion and chaos, even from the news anchors.  We flipped the channels but it was the same on every station.

Then, the second plane hit.  We watched it on tv and just sat in dumbfounded silence.  I realized at some point that I had tears running down my cheeks.  After a couple of minutes, we looked at each other and I will never forget the words my husband spoke to me.  He said, "I have to go."  I nodded because I couldn't speak.  I followed him back out and didn't know how long it would be until I saw him again.  He was Security Forces - the infantry of the Air Force.  I knew there would be immediate deployments.

After he left, I sat for hours in front of the tv and watched what unfolded.  After a while, my husband called me and told me that the base was locked down and I was not allowed to go outside for any reason.  To be honest, I can't remember what happened with the schools.  I think they were locked down, too, until arrangements could be made for pickup of the children.  I remember looking out my window and seeing a mother walking casually down the sidewalk pushing a baby stroller and her toddler walking beside her.  My first thought was that she was going to die somehow.

After that, it was a whirlwind.  I knew the troops would soon be mobilizing and every Security Forces member was recalled.  I gathered my wits and started making phone calls.  The other Security Forces wives and I began meal preparations for the Security Forces Squadron.  We chose something easy and quick - spaghetti, I think it was.  After a couple of hours, we had enough to feed an army - our army.  And feed them, we did.  As the spouses group, we were cleared to bring the food and we stayed to feed the men and women who were scrambling to deploy - only hours after learning what had happened.

Here's to all the men and women who serve, have served, will serve, and have died for our country and for us.  And here's to the men and women behind our airmen, sailors, soldiers, and marines - the spouses!  Thank you for ALL that you do!

So, that's my story of where I was on 9/11 ten years ago.  Do you have story?