Sept. 10, 2001, was a strange day for me. That day I had made arrangements to fly from Tallahassee to Sarasota with Gov. Jeb Bush and several members of the Florida Legislature. The president was going to be in Sarasota reading at a school. As a freshman member of the House of Representatives (who represented parts of Sarasota County) this was a great opportunity. Fellow-freshman Rep. Jerry Paul and I coordinated arrival and departure times late that afternoon. Everything was set.
As the evening wore on, my wife, Cyndie, started to have serious concerns about me flying the next day. By bedtime she had almost an irrational fear of my boarding the airplane to fly to Sarasota the next morning. This was particularly unusual since Cyndie has a pilots license and does not fear airplanes or flying in the least.
I set my alarm and prepared to go to sleep. The last words Cyndie uttered before dozing off were, I hope you oversleep and miss the flight. She couldnt explain how or why she felt the way she did -- all she knew was she didnt want me flying. I double-checked my alarm and went to sleep.
Unbelievably, the next morning my alarm did not go off. While I woke up in time to rush to the airport, it would have been close. I had flown with Gov. Bush before and I knew he generally didnt wait around for people who were running late -- especially if traveling to meet up with the president.
I called Rep. Paul and told him I wasnt going to make the flight. It seemed pointless to explain my wifes strong desire to keep me on the ground. Even if I did, Jerry probably would have thought we were both crazy. I hung up the phone and told Cyndie I was not going. It was like a huge weight had been removed from her shoulders. The sense of relief on her face was visible.
I got ready to go to the Capitol. Before doing so, I sat down at the kitchen table and started reading some committee reports. I had several committee meetings that week and wanted to make sure I was prepared.
You know the rest of the story: Planes flown into the World Trade Center and Pentagon by terrorists; the Andy Card whisper into President Bushs ear while he was reading a book to Sarasota school children; national shock. Like most of the nation, we watched the story unfold on television.
When President Bush had arrived in Sarasota on Air Force One the day before, there was a great deal of excitement in the community. When he left on Sept. 11, it was a whole new world. Air Force One took off as fast and hard as possible. There had been reports that there were cars parked near the end of the runway and the Secret Service feared a possible surface-to-missile attack on Air Force One. The presidents plane left with F-16 escorts. Nothing was taken for granted.
Meanwhile, Gov. Bush ordered the evacuation of our Capitol buildings. No one knew for sure the extent of the attacks. However, we were all keenly aware of the fact that, as the brother of the president, our governors safety was quite possibly at risk.
Since all air traffic was grounded nationally, Gov. Bush and the members of the Legislature who flew with him to Sarasota had to find a way home. Fortunately the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was on the scene and they drove everyone back to Tallahassee at a high rate of speed. I talked to Rep. Paul while he was on the road. You could sense the tension and anxiety in his voice. They were coming back to the capital city -- and fast. But they didnt know what they were coming back to. No one knew if there would be further attacks.
The presidents speech from the Oval Office that night was very well done. The nations response in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks was inspiring. Our country pulled together. Everywhere you looked, there were American flags flying. Stores were constantly sold out of U.S. flag lapel pins. As a nation we grieved -- but we also grew stronger.
In the 10 years since the 9/11 attacks, I have spoken at many events honoring the service of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical response personnel on our generations day that will live in infamy. Last year, I spoke at the Public Safety Monument dedication in Tequesta. The monument contains two steel beams from the fallen towers of the World Trade Center. To have such a tangible reminder of 9/11 made the event particularly moving.
The philosopher George Santayana said those who dont know history are doomed to repeat it. For the safety of future generations of Americans, we must not only know history, we must learn from it. And we have. As a country, we have responded to Sept. 11, 2001, in many ways, big and small, to improve our security and prevent its repeat.
Irish statesman Edmund Burke said, the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Evil may have struck us on 9/11, but evil did not triumph. The tragedy of that day brought out the very best in our country and our fellow man. In the end, good men took action.
And that has made all the difference.
This is a guest column by Jeff Kottkamp, Floridas 17th lieutenant governor.
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