Tara Simon Photography

I don’t think I will ever forget the morning of September 11, 2001.  I went to class at the University of Arkansas like it was any other day of the school year.  I was in my Principles of Tax class when the attacks began.  We were clueless.  My 3rd class of the morning was cancelled (unrelated to the events unfolding) so I got on the transit bus to take me to my car like I did many times before.  They always had the radio going on the buses.  As we were riding down the hill, we all started realizing that it wasn’t just the radio playing.  It was the news reports of the planes hitting the World Trade Center towers.  I heard the news but still didn’t quite realize what it was saying and what it meant.  I got back to my apartment, turned on the tv, and immediately watched as the first tower fell.  It was literally unbelievable.  I sat for probably an hour trying to catch up on everything that happened (and watched the second tower fall).  I decided to go to work at that point.  Kind of weird, I know.  My family was in school and at work and I just didn’t want to sit in an empty apartment by myself in that moment.  I guess it’s the sign of a great job & company to work for when I think of work as a 2nd family at times like 9/11.

My prayers go out to everyone who lost a loved one because of the attacks that day.  I’d like to thank everyone in the armed services, firefighters, police officers, & first responders who helped that day and help every day to protect and help all of us.

Never forget!