I will never forget

It was very hot in Sarasota that day. We had conducted an uneventful search of the premises at the Emma E. Booker Elementary School. President Bush had arrived without incident, on time as usual, so I took a few minutes to cool off in the back seat of a motorcade vehicle after the site’s events had begun. A police officer walked up to the right front window and asked, “did you see that a plane hit the World Trade Center?” The driver looked at his alphanumeric pager's news feed (remember this was 2001) and indicated that a small plane had indeed struck the WTC. I decided to walk into the main office where I remembered there was a television playing: shortly after I arrived, I watched, live, the second plane roll and strike the South Tower.

I immediately called my group’s trip lead, Jim, to inform him that there had been an attack at the World Trade Center, that I expected the President to leave the site shortly and that he would head back directly to the airport where Jim was stationed. He had also heard the news and was preparing to oversee the search of bags that would be brought back onto Air Force 1 in preparation for an exigent departure. I also called Brent to accelerate his route survey back to the airport.

After the President was safely in the air, ours was one of two fully assembled support teams (the next stop that day was to have been Orlando, FL): we both had a complete contingent of motorcade cars, Special Agents, Uniformed Division officers, Explosives Ordnance Disposal technicians, K9s and handlers, an advance team, a mechanic, a military aide, and equipment. We took off in a military transport plane not having any idea where we would end up that night.

After we landed at Andrews AFB late that evening, I took a taxi back to my car at National Airport, and saw the glow of fires at the Pentagon as I drove home to Arlington, VA.

Three days later, it was my privilege to be in the motorcade to Ground Zero. The sights, the sounds, and the smell: I will never forget them.

Please write down your memories and share them before they evaporate. Please remember those who suffered on that day or in the aftermath. Please hug your loved ones like you mean it. Please consider what is truly important to you, and live out your remaining days accordingly. These are not easy to do, but every year on this day I am reminded that every opportunity is a gift.