Each year on 9/11 for the past 13 years I have watched people post on Facebook about where they were, and what they were thinking on that tragic day so many years ago. Each time I read someones story, I am reminded of my own, burnt into my mind, etched into my soul for what I am sure will be the rest of my life.  We all have a story of that day — and wanted to share mine. May We Never Forget 9/11.

September 11, 2001 I was 21 years old. I was 3 1/2 months pregnant with my first child. I was working at a church daycare center with 3 & 4 year old (my most favorite age). I was wearing a light blue dress shirt and my stretchy black dress pants because my regular pants were just starting to feel a bit uncomfortable. I was standing out in our playground with another teacher watching the kids play on the swings and run around just having a good time when another teacher came running out to tell us what happened. We didn’t want to scare the children, but the news was urging everyone to take cover and just about that time a few military jets flew over our heads. My heart sank into my stomach. For one split second I imagined what life was like for our ancestors in all the wars that took place in their countries. The fear of being absolutely helpless and scared, your mind wandering – worry about family & friends consuming you. I didn’t have much time to continue in that nightmare since we needed to keep a happy face and get the children inside.

May We Never Forget 9/11

We took the children into the gym and allowed them free time – as the teachers gathered around the one T.V. to watch what we thought was the end of the world – the towers falling, people running covered in blood and ash, hearing the screams in the background. I picked up my phone and called my boyfriend right away; how selfish were we bringing a child into this dark scary world?! What if this was the start of an epidemic? To be honest I don’t remember what he said…I needed to move onto the next phone calls, call my Mom, my sister and my Dad to make sure they were O.K. 

How was this even possible? I grew up in the late 80’s and 90’s – we were the United States of America, strong, proud, and untouchable. Who would dare have the audacity to carry out such an evil plot? Was this just the beginning? Were there other airplanes that were hijacked and we just didn’t know yet? Were they coming our way? Was our country on the brink of destruction?

Days went by and we talked, watched, and read about nothing else. We started to hear the stories of the brave passengers who took down the hijacker and sacrificed their lives to save others – the police & firemen who risked theirs to try and save as many people as possible. They stood in the face of danger, looked death right in the eye..and just kept on. May We Never Forget 9/11.

Now I was pregnant, so maybe my memory eludes me – but I don’t remember a whole lot of blame shifting going on during this. For once in my life it seemed like all race, religions, genders, and ages came together as a nation. We started to seek God again – I heard people pray that I didn’t think knew how to. We were friends and not enemies, we were kind instead of cruel, we stood together.  And we stood tall. We had pride in our country & about our freedom,our nation. We couldn’t believe that someone dare set foot in our country and try to take that away. We were angry – but for good reason. I hadn’t never felt so patriotic in my life as I did those few weeks after the towers came tumbling down.

I’m not sure what has exactly happened to our country in the last 13 years – 9/11 seems to be forgotten except on the anniversary, and we are raging war among ourselves, leaving our nation exposed to the evil & turmoil of the outside world. I wish we could all really look back, dig deep into our hearts to remember those feelings we felt – whether it be fear, pain, or anger, even pride or patriotism, so that we can continue to love, protect and preserve this great country for generations to come.

 

“I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.” – George W. Bush

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“I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty and weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch.” – George W. Bush

 

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“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same”. – President Ronald Reagan

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“Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” – George W. Bush

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“We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail.” – George W. Bush