Where were you....?

Wyndi Veigel

Content Editor ‘Where were you when the world stopped turnin’ That September day?

Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or workin’ on some stage in L.A.?

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke Risin’ against that blue sky?

Did you shout out in anger, in fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry?’ The familiar lyrics of Alan Jackson’s Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), often resonate in my mind, especially when the anniversary of 9/11 approaches.

Twenty-one years later and many people can tell you where they were on Sept. 11, 2001. With my involvement with first responders over the years, Sept. 11 is a day of remembrance and reflection of the sacrifice of the 343 firefighters, 70 police officers and nine EMT/paramedics that died that day as well as local heroes that care for our communities on a daily basis. This does not include the numbers of those who have died after 9/11 from the toxic plumes – those numbers now outnumber those killed in the 9/11 attacks.

I have many memories surrounding 9/11 including having the honor of participating in Public Safety Sunday with my former department in Farmersville where the entire police, fire and EMS attend a church service together. I miss my department very much but am getting to know the first responders here and have found one common thread among them all – care.

They care for their communities, the people living in them regardless of the cost to themselves or their families. They are in every sense of the word a hero.

In 2014 and in 2015, I had the privilege of serving as a volunteer with the Dallas 9/11 Stair climb – an event in downtown Dallas set to honor those first responders who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Each participant climbs 110 flights of stairs and raises money for a variety of causes.

The event has been held at Renaissance Tower in downtown Dallas and participants climb 55 flights, rest for five minutes, take an elevator down and climb back up again. With full gear on and in a really hot stairwell.

I worked as a volunteer both years as a photographer and while I was helping organize participant packets in 2014 several of the special guests came to say hi to us volunteers.

As we all visited, they made their rounds taking the time to say thank you to us for volunteering. All were FDNY survivors with injuries from 9/11.

As they said thank you and then left to rest before the event the next day, I was overwhelmed. These heroes didn’t need to say thanks to us, if anything they deserved appreciation from us. Taking a moment and getting back to work, I concentrated on the task at hand.

As the 21st anniversary of 9/11 approaches, I urge everyone to take a moment to remember where you were when the world stopped turning on that September day.

Veigel is the Content Editor and staff reporter/ photographer for the Dublin Citizen. She can be reached at composing@ dublincitizen. com.