I opted to make my first contest start on September 11.
It’s been 10 years since the fateful day when terrorists took over planes and crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and in a field in western Pennsylvania. It’s been 10 years since a nation was shaken by this happening on our soil, our land.
It’s been 10 years…
Those images will never leave my head. Of the people running from downtown. Of the firefighters trying to save lives. Of the scene during and after the attacks. Of the emotion and reaction of America.
Ten years…
In that time, it can be argued whether or not we are in a safer world. Or a better world. But there is no more Saddam Hussein. No more Osama bin Laden. The United States got ’em both.
Still, our economy is in the crapper. Things aren’t the brightest. But on this day, we need to forget our troubles. Remember those who died on that awful day. Remember the big picture and what this country stands for.
Do you remember 9/11/01?
Where were you? What were you doing? What went through your mind?
I remember vividly where I was. I was at college. My senior year at Lock Haven. I came out of the bedroom just after the first plane went into the first tower. My roommate was at his computer and said I needed to see this — a plane just went into the Twin Towers.
I thought he was kidding. I soon found out he wasn’t.
I sat down with a glass of water just in time to see the second plane go into the second tower. Then the reports of the Pentagon. And of the plane in western Pennsylvania. It was surreal. I watched for a while longer before getting ready for class.
The campus was quiet, somber. People were crying. Classes were cut short. The sad part is some people took advantage of this by saying they couldn’t be in class. Teachers gave them the OK to leave and then they were seen shortly after out sunbathing and laughing like nothing happened.
Some classes had discussions on what happened. Some watched movies. I had two classes that day and nothing was too different.
The days that followed were a lot of watching the news, reading papers. It was crazy. Soon after 9/11, I went to one of the county fairs in that area and saw Brooks and Dunn. They opened with “Only in America” and one of them had a guitar in the shape of the USA. The crowd went nuts. I was home that weekend, too, and went to a football game. They did a moving tribute before that, too.
The United States got back to business eventually.
But that date will always be there.
Ten years. It’s amazing that it’s been that long.
The contest: Remember 9/11.
The prize
What you have to do: In the comments section, write about where you were, what you remember and everything else about 9/11. How vivid are things? Give a little detail.
Other ways to enter: You have to first do the main thing. After doing that, you can earn additional entries by doing the following (a person can do each one, but only once each. So you can earn a total of five entries into the contest.):
- Like this post on Facebook (down at the bottom of the post there is a”like” button. Use that (and let me know you did it… the number need to add up!).
- Like HooHaa Blog on Facebook (on the right side of the blog at the top of the page. If you have already liked the blog, let me know and I can give an entry that way, too).
- Write a post on your blog about this contest (make sure you let me know!)
- Tweet about this contest by copying and pasting the following:
HooHaa Blog and @softball29 is having contest! Go to https://hoohaa.com/?p=2233 and enter! #hoohaablog #geocaching #contest #coin
What can you win? A sweet Labor Day geocoin. It’s the closest I had to give for an “American” feel. It’s red, white and blue. Being it was originally part of the Geocoin of the Month club, it also comes with a pin.Even if you aren’t a geocacher, this is a really sweet coin to have and own!
Who can enter: This contest is open to anyone.
How decided? Random draw.
Entry deadline is 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) Sunday, September 18. Results will be announced in a blog post here at noon on Sept. 18.
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!