nmah4434.xml

nmah4434.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

It was my second day at my new job. I was reading the employee manuals in the breakroom, when one of the operators came in and said, "A plane just hit the World Trade Center." I didn't think I heard him right, but then he turned on the television, with the coverage of the first tower being hit. Other workers started coming in, talking about the tragic "accident". Then, right before our eyes, the second plane hit. For a split second, no one said anything, then reactions of shock and disbelief in realizing that these weren't accidents. The attack of the Pentagon, the crash of Flight 93, the collapse of the twin towers-I have never felt so overwhelmed, so helpless. I tried to get through the day as best as I could, only to find myself at home glued to the television for the rest of the week, crying most of the time. I could not stop watching the news coverage. I felt as if someone close to me in my family had just died, and they had. America IS my family.

It has been one year ago today, and September 11, 2001 has no doubt changed the world. On a personal level, I am more apprehensive about the future. I want to be defiant in the face of the people that have done this to my country and to the world, yet I have a daily fear of waiting for the other shoe to drop. One thing is for sure: I refuse to stop living my life. I refuse to let those responsible have that kind of power over me.

I think that September 11th should be remembered as a day that brought out the best in people. People sacrificed their time, their safety, their blood-their lives. It is a shame that it took something such as this to bring us closer together. We have July 4th to celebrate being American; maybe we need September 11th to reflect upon what being an American really means.

I flew the American flag where I spend most of my time-my car. My feelings about the American flag have changed; I have learned more about the symbolism, and after all these years, I look at it-REALLY look at it-and realize how beautiful it is.