Honestly…|an honest take on the world of PR and other things by Cindy Ronzoni

If you hear bells go off at 6:58AM this morning, it’s not your alarm clock. It’s the bells ringing from your neighborhood fire houses as they remember this tragic day seven years ago.  Yes, I’m talking about 9-11-2001. The day that will sadly live in infamy as my generation’s Pearl Harbor.

It’s nice that our firefighters, city officials and police departments still recognize this day. In fact, it’s important that everyone does.  And there should have been more public remembrances, don’t you think. Maybe there are in New York…but there should also be in LA and worldwide.

For this day affected every human being alive in the world at the time. The world stopped. Who could have ever imagined such a horrible thing happening - four commercial jetliners being used in a suicide mission inside the USA.

Yes, specific locations were affected - New York City, The Pentagon and Shanksville, PA - and nearly 3,000 people died - but, a part of us died too who survived. We lost our innocence that day and since then have lost all trust that we are a fully protected terrorist free country. The 9-11 Attacks proved that terrorist cells could exist beneath our very noses.

Nevertheless, thank goodness that our officers of compassion still remember this day.  So if you happen to drive by a fire house or police station today and see the ladders and American flag up - it’s there for a reason. And it’s worth our reflection if not our prayers. Don’t just zoom by without a care in the world.  If you happen to see the officers in “blue” give them a wave or a smile. It’s a hard day for them. They lost a lot of their comrades in the line of duty.

Today is going to be hard day for every American too - so please take it easy yourself and have patience toward everyone. The news media will be airing those images that we have plastered in our minds - those planes flying through the World Trade Towers. Those images.

If you miss a local remembrance, create your own. If you can hang a flag up at your house do it today. As I mentioned, give a smile to your local firemen. And say a prayer…say many prayers throughout the day. Pray for our country. Pray for the world. Pray for our next leader and that he may never have to go through such an atrocity. Pray for the families of the victims who still mourn and grieve. Pray for those who still have nightmares from it - those who rescued people and had to remove the body parts.  Pray for restoration. Pray for healing. Pray for peace.

But most importantly, Remember.

THIS JUST IN FROM A FIREFIGHTER TODAY…

Thoughts from a firefighter who just had a 9/11 remembrance at his fire station.  Pretty sobering thoughts.

Our 9/11 remembrance was actually pretty great. We did have a couple of people drive by and salute, but most people just looked at us and wondered what we were doing. Typical how people quickly forget the sacrifices that were made that day. Especially by the 343 firefighters who gave their lives trying to save others, selflessly. There were many police officers who died as well trying to save people, I think around 85. Then, all those poor innocent people who died. I still get chills seeing footage of civilians who jumped to their  death from the highest upper floors of the towers because they were burning up. If you saw the footage, you would be horrified. We got to see this footage when we had training if a plane was crashed into one of our high rises. There were dozens and dozens of people who jumped to their deaths. They were going to die anyway, but it’s awful seeing that.  But it was a nice remembrance with all the city council members and city manager and other city employees. This is definitely a reminder of how dangerous my job can be in an instant.