5 years ago today, the Nation stood still and watched in horror as terrorists attacked us. We all collectively held our breath and our loved ones as life as we know it changed forever. It is a day that we will never forget. Like other tragedies (such as the JFK assassination, Challenger explosion, etc) we all will remember exactly what we were doing when those planes struck the World Trade Center and they came crashing down around those on the streets.

I work for a Police Department and was busy doing the routine day to day things. The morning started out as normal as any other, but too soon all that would change. I police officer in the area came running into the substation where I worked asking if we had a television. We did, but it wasn't hooked up at that point. When asked why, he stated "A plane just flew into the World Trade Center!". We just looked at him like he was crazy, but within minutes we had the TV up and running and were watching along with a large number of the nation. We all thought that it was just a fluke or some kind of navigational mistake. Within minutes of first turning it on, the second plane with the second tower. It was then that everyone in the room knew that this wasn't a coincidence. It was the first time ever that I saw fear in grown mens eyes.

We continued to watch in horror as the events unfolded. Fire, smoke, people jumping from the buildings. Firefighters and police officers going into the burning buildings...and the towers collapsing. Knowing that so many men and women we not coming out. For the first time in my life, I was truly and utterly speechless. I couldn't believe that it was happening. It was like watching one of those natural diseaster horror movies. Within minutes, the EOC was enacted and the Lt. over my unit was gone to the nuclear power plant. It was all so surreal. I can't imagine what it was like for those in Manhattan and through out NYC that day.

For the rest of the day, the city was absolutely still. For the first time I can ever remember the skies above we still. Utterly silent and that, for me, made it that much more scary. I felt like we were just waiting for the other shoe to drop. And that no.one.was.safe. Although the terrorists didn't succeed in taking our freedom away, they took a little piece of everyone that day.

The events are still so fresh and tears well in my eyes at just the memory of that day. My heart and prayers go to all those with loved ones who lost their lives on that day. May we never have to endure such a fate again.

Tribute to Micheal J. Berkeley

About a month ago, I signed up at www.dcroe.com/2996 to pay tribute to someone who died during the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. I was assigned Micheal J. Berkeley. Michael J. Berkely was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center North Tower when the first plane hit. He graduated from Columbia University in 1987. The following was published about Mr. Berkely in the Columbia newsletter :A self-proclaimed "premier bunker player," Michael Berkeley was a
lifelong athlete: a former Little League player, ninth-grade quarterback and college varsity basketball star and, as an adult, a member of four golf clubs. His company, the Berkeley Group (which he founded after a successful career with Merrill Lynch), focused in part on golf course development projects. The firm also specialized in securities brokerage and private equity investments. Berkeley’s memorial service reflected lovingly on his "Summer Camp Years," "Caddy Years" and "Business School Years," among others. "Above all," read the service’s program, "Mike was an adoring husband, a caring son and a devoted father to his two special
‘men’ . . . Eric and Jason."September 11 was his 38th birthday." Michael would have been 43 today.

I wish to take a moment to remember Mr. Michael J. Berkeley, his family and his loved ones. May they find peace and forgiveness in the hearts.