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Giant is awakened

Almost 20 years ago, the two children of my wife's best friend lost their father. He had served three tours of duty in Vietnam and had returned to his family unharmed, only to die years later. A little girl and young boy were left without a father. For many years, the children and their mother enjoyed every holiday with my family - the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We enjoyed being together.

Throughout the years of grade school, high school and into college, I tried to be a mentor to the son of our friend, encouraging him, giving him as good advice as I could, and telling him to develop friends of good character. The lad was successful in completing college in South Carolina and entered into the mortgage banking business, an area that was of extreme interest to him. He won a job with a top firm in New Jersey and worked there for several years. We kept in touch via e-mail and he would tell me how much he enjoyed his profession.

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from him saying that he had received an opportunity to transfer to his company's New York office in the World Trade Center complex. He said it was known to be a high-stress position but it was a good step toward advancement in his company. In an e-mail, my young friend said he awoke at 3:30 a.m., took the 4:55 a.m. train from New Jersey to New York City and arrived at his office at 7:15 a.m. He stated he arrived home each night at 8 p.m. I told him it was a tough work schedule but he was young and strong enough to handle it, and it would not be forever. In one of his last e-mails, he said it was wonderful to eat lunch in one of the World Trade Center restaurants and be able to look out the window at the Statue of Liberty in the harbor.

At 8:15 a.m. on the 11th day of September, I heard on the TV that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center buildings and my heart sank. A few minutes later, it was reported that a plane had struck the second building. I just knew my young friend had to have been injured or lost his life when I saw the damage. When the two buildings crumpled to the ground, I was gripped by extreme emotion because I just knew I had lost him.

I wrote an e-mail and sent it to his apartment stating that if he replied in a day or two, I knew he survived. If he did not respond, I would know that he had fallen victim to this cowardly attack upon our country. I thought of the great loss to his mother and sister; also the sacrifices made to educate this boy and the promising future that was lost to a horrendous act by terrorists. I had a very heavy heart all day for my friend and all the other innocent people who lost their lives.

About 4 p.m. on the afternoon of the 11th, I received a brief e-mail from my young friend. It read, "I'm OK. I'll call you later and tell you the story." How relieved I was. I sent e-mails and phoned all my friends to tell them of my great joy. The next day he called. He was in the World Trade Center two hours before they collapsed. He had to go across the street to another building on business and was there when the planes hit. He and his co-workers walked for two hours to their mid-town office before the buildings collapsed. It just shows the power of prayer. A young, promising life was saved.

The 11th day of September 2001 will be remembered by the people of the United States of America forever; the day that we were attacked by a cowardly sect of fanatics with no regard to human life. It is my sincere hope that all the people unite, support our elected officials as they sort out the mass of information coming in and determine the parties that should pay for this horrendous attack. Let's show them that they have indeed, "Awakened a sleeping giant!"

R.D. Mills,

Matthews