In Remembrance

I remember where I was when I found out about the heartbreaking devastation on 9/11/01

It was my freshman year of college and I was living in the dorms.  It was a Tuesday, which meant my first class was Journalism. I remember my day starting off no different than any of the previous.  I didn't have a TV at the time so my morning shower was accompanied by the sounds of  Usher's "U Remind Me" and Alicia Key's "Fallin'".  As I rushed out the door and headed down the hall, I noticed an unusually large group of students gathered around the big-screen TV in the communal lounge. I stopped to see what was going on and remember being in complete disbelief at the news.  By that time the Towers had already fallen, and a plane sat in the fortress of the Pentagon.  The news continued to replay the footage of the tragic events that had unfolded in front of the nation's eyes.  I remember feeling like I had been punched in the gut as I saw the second plane pummel into the second Tower.  I also remember the feeling of tears falling (unconsciously) down my face.  The rest of my day was a blur. Journalism was canceled, and the rest of my classes consisted of either watching the news or open conversations about the morning's events. I remember a sense of community on campus that I hadn't yet experienced in my first three weeks, as we all sat in the Student Union glued to the TV.  I remember feeling my heart break as the magnitude of the devastation unfolded, but I also remember feeling a sense of pride (and a real awareness) of being an American and what all of our freedom meant.

Today marks the 9th Anniversary of 9-11

Nine years? How has it been nine years? Some days this all seems like a distant memory, while on others it feels like it happened just yesterday.  It boggles my mind that there is now a whole generation of children who will only know a "post 9-11" world.  I have had students  that only know about the significance of today's date through their history books and stories others have told them.  They will never be able to answer the question, "Where were you when the Towers fell?"

As I watched the news this morning, I noticed tears on my cheeks once again.  Hearing the names called of the 2,966 people who lost their lives so tragically broke my heart all over again. And again, I was reminded of all of the reasons why I love being an American. We often take our freedom and rights for granted.  I know how easy it is to forget those who struggle all around the world.  Politics (and the state of our economy) aside there is no better country in the world then the United States.  God Bless America and Bless all those affected by the tragedy of 9/11/01.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET