Memories of a fateful September day
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Don Kinnett, Sr
Published: October 7, 2008
This past September brought back many sad memories to this old soldier. I though about the 11 a.m. appointment that I had on 9/11/01 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Washington, D.C., and
how slow the traffic had seemed to move, almost bumper to bumper, along I-395.
I had left my home in Dale City at 8 a.m. As i neared the Pentagon, which I could see from I-395, all of the cars in front of me were stopped.
I saw an airplane circle the Pentagon and it went out of sight. I heard a very loud noise and began to see heavy black smoke coming from the Pentagon. I was sure that a bomb had exploded. The noise
was so loud that I bumped my head against my truck top.
I got out of my truck along with others who were traveling I-395 and soon heard police and rescue sirens as several police cars came to the scene.
They took our names and asked us lots of questions and then blocked off the highway. One policeman said that an airplane had just crashed into the Pentagon.
We all had to detour, and I headed back to my home in Dale City. I was so shocked that I had to pull off the highway and rest for about 30 minutes before I could continue to my home.
When I arrived at home, my wife was watching TV coverage of the crash and the other attacks on our country. I told her that I had been an eyewitness to the Pentagon tragedy and how bad I felt.
I am proud to have served as a non-commissioned officer in the armed forces of my country and I am proud of The Pentagon Memorial, which has been erected in memory of the men, women and children
who lost their lives on that tragic day.
DON KINNETT, Sr
Dale City
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Posted by ( magicman ) on October 08, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Yes, indeed do I remember that day. I was at work at the time and did not have access to a radio or television. Bits and pieces of news were coming in by word of mouth and I simply could not believe what I was hearing. My neighbor a worker in the Pentagon was inside when it happened, but was not injured or killed. I remember when he came home I gave him a big hug. The phone lines were all tied up and calls were not coming through. Like everyone else, my eyes were glued to the television. One clip I remembered in New York City was the smoke filling up the street as one of the towers fell. It looked like something out of a movie. I know where you are coming from on this one, as I served too and retired. I am also a Disabled Veteran. I was honored to also serve. Sadly what I remember most was the wake up call that 9-11 gave most Americans. It became almost impossible to purchase an American Flag, as everyone united and displayed it everywhere. We were raped, and it took a horrible situation like this to make a person realize what that flag really meant. Also suddenly serviceman from all wars became a noticed. Before 9-11 for the most part the serviceman was taken for granted. Now all Veterans are respected and thanked constantly for their service. I also thank you for your service Don. Respectfully Magicman
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