story7831.xml

story7831.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-18

My cousin was stationed at the Pentagon on September 11 and all I could think about that morning was him, thank goodness he wasn't in the Pentagon when the plane hit. I felt so bad for everyone who had been killed or lost a family member that horrible day. I come from a military family (many generations of my family have served as did I) so we understand the risks involoved. It is a tradition that males in my family join the military, I am the one and only female in my family to serve in the military. We have served in every branch of the military, I hope some day my children will serve this great nation as well. I couldn't believe it when the plane hit the first building but I knew in my gut it was no accident and I was sickened and saddened by what I saw, when I saw the second plane hit I was mad. My anger grew when a third plane hit the Pentagon, as well as my fear for cousin's safety. When the 4th plane went down I knew that it too had been part of a terrorist act and I cried out in anger for all the lost lives. When I heard of the bravery shown by the passengers on the 4th jet I was very proud of them, proud for America. My children went to school that morning, even as I wanted to keep them home safe, the thought of letting them out of my sight terrified me. I knew it was best for them to go to school, their world had been turned upside down, they needed some normalcy. I returned home to watch the CNN all day and just bawl, there would no relief, no surprise announcement that this was just hoax, a bad dream. No, the day that dawned so brightly would go down in history as one of the darkest days in our history. It was the worst days in our history, but also our brightest, because we showed what we are truely made of, compassion, bravery, friendship, love, heroism, empathy, generosity, determation, and strenght beyond expectation. As this went through my mind and heart I prayed for my cousin, my family, New York, Pennsylvanian, and our counry. As I am on inactive reserve status I wondered if I would once again be called upon to defend my country and if I was ready for the challenge. I was so mad at that point, I prayed I would be once again called upon to serve my country, I would gladly serve in the greatest Air Force in the world. I love my country and my family, I would do anything to protect them from the evil we faced that day and evil I am sure we will face again in the future. God Bless America and all who choose to call her home! God Bless our Allies!