September 11, 2011 -- Wine Train commemorates those lost who lost their lives on 9/11

By Kira Devitt, Napa Valley Wine Train Marketing

On Thursday September 8th 2011, I received an email informing me that at 10 AM on Sunday September 11, the Wine Train would be sounding the horns of all five of locomotives for one minute. This gesture would be to commemorate the lives that were lost on 9/11/2001. The email read:

“The Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association asked all railroads to sound locomotive horns for one minute at 10:00AM PT on Sunday, September 11, 2011. This commemoration marks the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In remembrance of the nearly 3,000 persons who tragically lost their lives that day, the U.S. Senate has unanimously passed Resolution S.237. The resolution calls ‘… upon all of the people and institutions of the United States…to observe a moment of remembrance on September 11, 2011… to last for one (1) minute beginning at 1:00PM Eastern Daylight Time.’ The resolution asks that the means of commemoration include ‘…to the maximum extent practicable, i) ceasing all work activity, and ii) marking the moment in an appropriate manner, including by ringing bells, blowing whistles, or sounding sirens.’”

On Sunday September 11th at 5 minutes until 10, I began walking out to the boarding platform. As I passed through the station, Katie, one of our lead reservation agents, was making an announcement to the guests about observing a moment of silence. Everyone was standing perfectly still, as if someone had just hit a pause button on a remote control.

Once out on the boarding platform, I was completely alone. The engines were in the train yard, preparing for the day’s journey. I leaned up against one of the wine barrels, which is staged on the platform for photos, and closed my eyes. The air was heavy, cool and crisp, and it seemed like the weather knew that today was a solemn day. Then it began, five powerful horns blowing in unison. Their tones moving in and out of harmony. They began to resonate with my own heart and for one moment, I was transported back 10 years. I could feel a prickling on the back of my neck and arms and a tingling of my eyes. The world around me had completely stopped.

I am so sorry to everyone who lost their lives or loved ones on that sad day 10 years ago. I just wanted to let you know, that we were thinking about you...