Remembering 9/11

MLS, Kasey Keller and the Sounders FC fans remember the tragic events that shook our country on this date in 2001.

September 11, 2001.

Nine years ago today.

It’s a day that nobody in America struggles to recall.  Where were you?  What were you doing?  How did you react?

Today on the Sounders FC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/seattlesounders) fans from all walks of life recounted tales of that fateful morning when two planes flew into the World Trade Center, another into the Pentagon and a fourth that was bravely diverted by passengers into a field in Pennsylvania.

“Watching the towers smolder and smoke and eventually fall from Staten Island Ferry Dock,” said Jason Pries.

“Feeling very numb and realizing some of what my grandfathers felt on 12/7/41,” said Chad Davies.

“It was pure panic.  I will never forget that day and the days that followed.  God bless all the brave and innocent people that passed away that day.  Never forget,” said Fabian Sanin.

“Waiting for my son to be born and wondering what kind of world he was going to enter,” said Jeffrey Eaton.

Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller was in England, having joined Tottenham Hotspur not long earlier.  He was at training when someone pulled him aside to a television.  A few days later, he played in a Cup game for Tottenham and shortly thereafter he began travelling with the US National Team in preparations for the 2002 World Cup.

“It was a little bit numbing,” Keller said.  “The security issues and the scare that was going around at the time – I was right in the middle of it.  It was a bad time in American history, that’s for sure.”

Keller capped 102 times for the US National Team and said Saturday at training that there was a heightened sense of pride and responsibility pulling on the US kit after September 11.

“I think we still feel that today,” he said.  “I remember playing in games where different ladder companies brought me their memorabilia and you do take pride in that.  It’s something that we still hold today.”

MLS will observe Patriot Day with a moment of silence at each of the five league matches today.