I remember

I know everyone always says, "Never Forget" when it comes to September 11th, but seriously...who could forget? It would be like forgetting my own name.

I remember sitting in English class that day and a student from another classroom ran in and yelled "Turn on the TV!" My teacher did so, and the first thing we all saw was the smoky New York air from the attacks on the Twin Towers. They had both been hit by the time we had gotten word.

We all sat stunned as we watched the Towers crumble down. We watched as people jumped out of the windows, as firefighters carried people on their shoulders, as bystanders ran from the debris.

The bell rang, and no one moved. My English teacher didn't even flinch. All eyes were glued to that television set.

We were sent home shortly after we had gotten news of the plane crashing in Pennsylvania. It was close to home. Too close. All the students and teachers went home to be with their families. I couldn't get in touch with my dad who was stationed in Georgia for two days. He worked around the clock for many weeks following the attacks.

I remember sitting in the living room with my three step brothers and two sisters watching the news as it displayed the images over and over again of the Towers, the Pentagon and the crash in Pennsylvania. I remember my brother saying, "I can't believe someone would attack America."
Today, that same brother is a U.S. Army Ranger and is still in Iraq. He fights for our freedom every day while his family sits at home and worries about petty things like who ate the last Twinkie. His fiance cries for him every night and cannot wait until the day he comes home so that they can finally get married. Imagine wondering if you are ever going to see your fiance again. Your husband. Your brother. Your son. Or if you don't have to imagine it and you live it each day...my heart goes out to you and yours.

We send him packages often, and when he writes home, he always asks for things like chocolate and deodorant. Simple things really, but they mean a lot to him.

My father served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years. His brother served in the U.S. Marie Corps for 10 years. His father served in the U.S. Army for 4 years.  My family is a military family...and if it sounds like I'm bragging, it's because I am. I am very proud to have been a military brat for 16 years of my life and I am very proud to call these people family.

The media has stated that the war is over and the troops are coming home, but it's no entirely true. There are still 50,000 troops in Iraq who are supposedly training the Iraqi security forces. They still fear the same risks. So until all of our troops come home, I don't believe that anyone can say that the war is over.

No...I will never forget those that lost their lives on that day and since that day.


Where were you on September 11, 2001?