nmah4285.xml

nmah4285.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I was in class, English, and the class phone rang and my teacher answered it. She told us that a plane had just crashed into the first of the WTC towers. The class response was disbelief but it soon passed and class continued. When the teacher found out about the second tower and the pentagon, the whole class was confused and in need of answers to questions that were on all of our minds. For the rest of the day, every classroom had a tv tuned into a news station and we all stared at it waiting for anything new that would help us understand what happened and why and who and all the questions that raced through all of our heads. When I got home, I immediately turned on the tv and watched the news all night, in disbelief of the events of the day. I know I will never forget it.

For the first week or so after, I was watching tv any chance I got and the conversation I had with everyone were about the towers. The other day, I went to an Ohio State game and I got to thinking that there was a huge crowd and if the terrorists were interested in another attack, this would be a target but I have to keep telling myself that the terrorists will get what they wanted if I allow them to keep me from doing the things I love and I can't let them win.

There are two things that need to be remembered. One is all the innocent people who died as a result of the attack. I think it is very respectful that there is now a holiday to remember them and let them have their respect. Those people need to be remembered and respected for being the first casulties for the war on terrorism. The other is the way we, as a nation, responded to the attack by grouping together to become a community that doesn't pay attention to gender and race but instead nationality and we are all AMERICAN.

My feelings have always been that of respect and since I was little I have understood that. It is the symbol of America and has been since we were a country. When I was in school, I learned about Betsy Ross and the maturity of the stars on the flag as new states were added. I also learned that it was important enough that you aren't allowed to touch it to the ground and if this happens, it needs to be burned. After September 11th, the flag has been the symbol to me and all people that we are one nation, under God, indivisible and we will always win.