Countdown - 89 Days
- Jillian Wallin
- Sep 11
- 2 min read
While I am still excited for my countdown, especially being under the 90-day mark, today is a day for remembrance. It's been 24 years since the September 11th attacks, but this is a day that I will never forget. Like many Americans, I can remember exactly what I was doing when I heard about the attack on the first tower. I remember watching live as the second tower was struck, and more than anything, I remember the absolute terror of uncertainty—the unknown of what was to come. I was in high school at the time, just a few short weeks into my sophomore year, but I vividly recall pulling from my history lessons and wondering if, like in the days after Pearl Harbor, the United States was headed toward war.
While I may have been in high school, relatively safe, there were a lot of people who weren’t at home or even close—in fact, some people were at the happiest place on earth… Disney World or Disneyland. When the attacks first occurred, Disney World had already opened for the day. Guests had flocked into the parks and were planning to have an amazing day; however, this wouldn’t last long. Shortly after the parks opened, the announcement came: “Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Magic Kingdom is now closed. Please follow the direction of the nearest Cast Member. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Magic Kingdom is now closed. Please follow the direction of the nearest Cast Member.” I cannot imagine how confusing that would be—I mean, this was before you could just pull out your phone and find out what was going on. Disneyland simply didn’t open—and at that point in time, that was only the third time in history that the parks had closed.
People often recall the details of 9/11, but one of the most common themes I have found from those at the Disney resorts is the eerie silence that descended across the resorts and the amazing job that Disney Cast Members did in providing comfort, access, and reassurance in a time that was filled with uncertainty. There are so many amazing stories out there, but none of them are mine to share.
What I will say is that even though it’s been almost a quarter of a century since this horrific event happened, it is not a day that should be forgotten or pushed aside. It is a day that we should remember—a day that we should reflect on and recall what led to these events. We should remember that we overcame what was supposed to crumble us, we rose above what was supposed to knock us down, and better than anything—we came together as a nation and remembered that we are Americans, and that together, we can do anything. The togetherness, the patriotism that grew that day, is something that we should continue to strive for.
Today I pray for those lost, those who survived, and those who were left behind to grieve. I pray for your peace, your love, and most of all, your comfort on this day of remembrance, and offer this in solidarity to #neverforget.
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