911 Remembrance (2019)

9/11/2001 was a unique day for me. I went from being a sports editor to a photo desk editor that day. For the next two weeks I edited photos as they came across from the Associated Press, chose ones I felt were most relevant and important, and forwarded them on to some of the smaller papers in our Indiana-based chain. But there were hundreds, maybe thousands that I saw that never made the transfer. It impacted me in a way that I cannot express.

I had an idea for this PowerPoint presentation for several years before God gave me the skills, tools and insight to actually create it. When I did, the first place I showed it was my church, Fellowship in the Pass in Beaumont, Calif., under the pastoral leadership of Walter Price. We showed it in all three services that day. At the end of each showing tears flowed throughout the sanctuary as the officers, firemen and other first-responders of our church thought back to the brothers and sisters in their trade that had been lost that day. One friend - a 6'6" fireman who had once been an NFL hopeful - walked passed me with tears in his eyes and said, "I hate you for making me cry."

Over the years I've tried unsuccessfully to get this presentation transferred to a video file. This recording is still not up to par with what I'd prefer, but it's at least good enough to get the gist of it. And while I'd like to recreate this presentation using some video software, many of the images have been lost or misplaced, making it near impossible to do so.

Nonetheless, I hope that this video serves as a reminder of September 11, 2001 and the wounds we suffered as a nation that day. I hope that we never, ever forget. ~ Tim Allen

Music credit to Alan Jackson for the song, "Where Were You?"