story3767.xml

story3767.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I'll never forget the phone call I got at 7 in the morning from my friend, telling me to wake up and turn on the news, we were being bombed. I didn't understand and she had to repeat herself several times before I was convinced that it wasn't a dream. I soon learned that we weren't being bombed but we were being attacked in our own buildings with our own planes. I quickly changed and drove over to her house so I wouldn't be alone. We spent the morning and afternoon fixated on the TV watching the horrific events of that morning being shown over and over. We sat in shock and spoke very little except to say "I can't believe this is happening". While the events took place far from us; we still felt vulnerable. If this could happen there, it could happen anywhere. For the first time I felt like our country wasn't safe. I called as many loved ones as I could to tell them I love them and make sure they were ok. The days after the attacks all blurred together as a mass of sadness and hopelessness. Moments of encouragement were found as my work observed the moment of silence and when the President spoke to our country. Over the next several weeks and months my feelings of patriotism and love for my country and my president were stronger than they had ever been. I was ashamed to be around people who had anything negative to say about it and everytime pictures of the attacks would be replayed at work or at a friends house, I would hold back tears. I don't know why this event effected my life so profoundly. It happened across the continent but it felt like it happened right next door. I didn't lose a brother or sister, my father or mother; but all I can think of is, I could have. It's been a year today since the attacks and our country and myself have been forever changed. We can no longer lie to ourselves that we in America are untouchable or indestructable. It's the coming of age of our country. We can no longer be innocents letting devastation effect the rest of the world but not us. We have been forced into growing up as a country and hopefully growing together. It is a sad thing that it took so much tragedy to join our nation together. On this first anniversary, as we all look for ways to honor the memories of those who lost their lives to terrorism I wonder how many will be successful. The only way I think we can hope to honor them is to learn from what has happened. We are a nation that is strong and powerful, but most of all, we need to be a country that is united. When we stand together as a people, embracing our differences, loving our neighbors, and respecting our freedoms; it is only then that we truly show the world we are a great nation. I hope we WILL let terrorism change our lives. That what they intended to hurt us will only make us stronger and those who lost their lives, did so to make sure we never forget how lucky we really are.