September 11 Digital Archive

story6634.xml

Title

story6634.xml

Source

born-digital

Media Type

story

Created by Author

yes

Described by Author

no

Date Entered

2002-09-12

911DA Story: Story

a friend called me at home and said to turn on the tv. as I watched in horror at the spectacle unfolding before my eyes, disbelief washed over me. I watched throughout the night, into the next day. Then, I realized "stop". I turned my attention towards the thousands of people pouring into ny city to help. the red cross was overwhelmed with donations. exhausted firefighters, policemen/women, emergency workers, the average american, search and rescue dogs, all struggling to help. I focused on the good. The many efforts to help, console, dig, whatever they could do. I was always proud to be American, but now even more so. I always sing the Star Spangleled Banner with pride for my neighbors at the Moose Lodge and Elks Club. Now, when I sing it, it is more poignant. For, even though I always felt every word of the song in my heart, for many, it had become almost rote. That has changed, and now, when I sing the Star Spangeled Banner, people cry, not tears of sorrow, but tears of joy at the realization of who we are and what we have. I didn't lose a blood family member, friend, coworker, anyone I knew personally. But, I did lose sister and brother Americans. I always felt we are one people, the human race. And if there is a reason this had to happen, I think to myself of the resolve that came out of this, people coming together with one voice, one nation, one heart. War on any continent is unspeakable. But this time, it was brought home.

Citation

“story6634.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed January 6, 2025, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/19615.