10th Anniversary

Hard to imagine it was 10 years ago today... I remember it like yesterday (cliche, but true)... I was in American Eagle jeans and logo T (it was the store my freshman year of high school) when principal Kelly Brown came across the intercom and informed of us of the plane into World Trade One. I sat in Mr. Mindach's Bible class and we were all sure it was just an accident, but boy were we wrong...

As people reflect on the most horrific day in our great nation's history, it gives me an overwhelming sense of pride to remember how immediately following the tragedies, people united. "God" was no longer taboo, flags were everywhere you turned, and despite disagreements, people were fellow Americans and a new sense of civility that had never been seen before arose.

How heart breaking that in no time, the finger pointing, name calling, and blame gaming returned with a vengeance. How quickly forgotten were the heroes who rushed in as others were rushing out, the service men and women who packed up and left their loved ones to protect the freedoms that were threatened that day.

What happened on that beautiful Tuesday morning was nothing short of pure evil. The deliberate attack on innocent people and the freedoms that we value, though often take for granted, is something that can not be adequately described with words. The anger, pain, anguish, fear, helplessness, and loss set in as the shock wore off. The reality of what truly happened was unimaginable, but was indicated by those who jumped from the buildings; what was happening up there was somehow worse than jumping to their death. It seems unfathomable... yet it was true.

I do not believe in coincidence, and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Republican or Democrat, George W. Bush was in office that day because he was a man of the Lord, a man of faith, and a man of prayer.

My heart broke that day for my beloved country (yes I was that obsessed with being an American in high school too), for those who lost their lives, those who lost loved ones, and those directly affected by the attacks. That day, we were all New Yorkers, we were all Pentagon employees, and we all lived in near a field in Pennsylvania.

As we reflect in 2011, I pray we never forget that day, the loss and sacrifices that have been made. Evil shook our buildings, but not our resiliency. Today and every day, I am proud to be an American and thankful to all who have made this nation what it is. Though words don't do justice to express gratitude, September 11, 2011 will be in my heart and on my mind every day as it has been for 10 years, for the rest of my life.