The Islands’ Sounder asked its readers to submit stories about how the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks affected them. The following is what we received.

by Maura O’Neill

I was due to fly stand-by to New York City, when I found out that my ticket was invalid due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Then a few days later, when listening to the evening news, I viewed a commercial for Jet Blue Airlines advertising a great fare to New York. I really didn’t want to miss my dear friend’s golden jubilee on Sept. 21, so I booked a flight for Sept. 19, a little over one week after the attacks. The flight from California to New York was practically empty, with a maximum of about 20 seats occupied.

Throughout the flight the pilot and the flight attendants were all thanking us for flying with them under the circumstances in a tone that was much more exuberant than usual.

On the second day at my friend’s home on Coney Island, Brooklyn, we decided to take the train to Manhattan for a Broadway show. It was the Q train, an elevated that carries its passengers above the streets and buildings of the city and gives great views. At one point there was a hush in the train, and all heads were turned toward the site of the World Trade Center where we saw smoke still rising from the smoldering ashes.

I will never forget the sight of smoke or the experience of quiet respect and camaraderie that filled the subway car at that moment. In all my days of traveling the subway, which I had done since high school, I had never known such a moment. My wish is that the sense of community that I experienced on the plane, the train and in the streets of the city, would prevail and, instead of dividing us, the pain of that day would continue to unite so that we may heal.

by Michael Patrick Rahilly

On 9/11 we began work at 8 a.m. on 41st street in New York, midtown Manhattan, just north of ground zero. Shortly after starting we all noticed how closely a plane had seemed to pass over the building, minutes later our boss informed us that a plane had struck the World Trade Center and then another and one more in D.C. Most or all of my co-workers lived outside of Manhattan and quickly fled and rightfully so.

My wife was working just 10 blocks north of my location so I began walking north on 8th Ave. I went down the subway steps to find the station dark and the trains abandoned at the platforms with the doors open. I walked past a firehouse where I saw the raw emotions of fire fighters, half dressed in their gear, reacting to the radio calls of their brothers as they were dying in southern Manhattan.

I, thankfully, found Cyndi safe, standing on the sidewalk with her co-workers and we all watched the towers fall. We began walking home, north to 81st Street, in the company of thousands. The only way out of the city was north to the George Washington bridge. No cell phones, no conversations. The sounds of feet on the pavement and military aircraft flying overhead are what I remember about that walk home.

Later we sat in a local restaurant on Amsterdam Ave. and tried to eat and make some sense of what was happening around us as we watched the exodus of thousands continue. The ensuing days involved shortages and escalating prices and the terrible smell of what was burning downtown. A real bad time for New Yorkers.

As we celebrate Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech and we near the anniversary of 9/11, we must celebrate the advances we have made and remember the hate that was responsible for 9/11. Put the gay pride flags back up and celebrate the diversity that is not tolerated in many places in this world. After all that is our right.

by ROBERT COOK

The following was emailed to friends and relatives on September 13, 2001. To explain what I wrote, I was assigned to Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. and walked about five miles home to my condominium in Alexandria, Virginia on Sept. 11, 2001.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and words. You know, Tuesday morning about 10 a.m., all of the Washington, D.C. public transportation was temporarily shut down and all roads, especially those around the Pentagon, were almost impassable due to heavy traffic.  I assessed the situation and decided the best way to get home was to walk.  This was good for me because it gave me time to think about what was happening and take my mind off how sore my feet were starting to feel.

Some of my thoughts were:  This was the first time I saw real fear and significant panic here in the U.S. The combination of cars smashing all around me and sirens blasting made matters worse. I thought about the last time I saw this kind of emotion by large crowds.  It was about 30 years ago, when I was serving as a crew member on a C-141 in the Air Force.  There have only been a few times in my life when I felt it really necessary to turn to God for help; Tuesday was one of those times.  But, this time it was not for me.  It was for all the panicking people around me and for those that would not return home safely that day.  It helped me realize how important loved ones are and the real reason we are on this earth is to love and be kind to one another. As I neared home, I was quite comfortable and relaxed, knowing I was not making that walk alone. My focus changed from turmoil to calmness. I heard birds singing and there was a refreshing breeze. It also gave me time to feel sorry for all those who don’t believe. They don’t know where to turn and there is no one to comfort them when they need it most.

God works through all of us. Look around you and you will see it everywhere and, if you truly believe, it will help you overcome the evil that unfortunately is there, too.

You will never know how good it felt to finally get home, take my shoes off and find all those delightful emails and telephone messages from those who cared. Thank you.

I would also like to share the National Prayer created for that day.  It follows:

Dear Heavenly Father, We are moved by the alarming news and crisis that our country is facing.  This, the greatest nation in the world, founded in the belief that “In God We Trust” and the “Land of the Free” has been attacked.  Please have mercy on those suffering, hurting and in fear, and give wisdom and strength to those who are assisting the injured.  Please graciously accept all those lost in this terrible tragedy into eternal life in Heaven with You, our Almighty Father.  May the forces of evil be broken by your power and may be humble before Thee, our strength and refuge.  In the face of such tragedy, give us patience and restraint, that in our need to punish the guilty, would we remember and spare the adjacent innocent, in our country and beyond.  Give wisdom to our President, our nation’s leaders and the leaders of all the countries of the world, bring your comforting peace through the power of your Holy Spirit.  Help us here to reach to those who have been affected by this tragedy.  In the name of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen.

Local ceremonies

• Orcas Fire and Rescue will hold a ceremony in honor of the 9/11 anniversary starting at 10 a.m. at the Eastsound Station.

• Remembrance ceremony on San Juan Island will be at 9 a.m. in Memorial Park, Friday Harbor.