nmah1438.xml

nmah1438.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-06

September 11, 2002 dawned as a very ordinary day for me.
I arose at the usual 5:30 A. I went to Forestbrook Middle
School where I am a seventh grade math teacher. It was the
most normal of days until I received an emergency email from
the office.It said not to turn on CNN or the Weather Channel
for our classes. I had no idea what was going on. While my
students worked on an assignment, I went to the Cnn website
to see if I could get some information. There was little
at that point. I had lunch/playground duty. My principal
came out to brief me on what was going on and how to
approach it with my students. He told me about the planes
hitting the Twin Towers in New York City, the plane into
the Pentagon, and most personally chilling to me was the
plane that went down near Pittsburgh. All my family lives
in the city. When I got back to the classroom, I went to
the CNN website again and read their reports with fear.

My life has changed drastically in one sense. I have been
a Catholic all my life, but on September 9, I had given my
heart and life to Jesus and was born again. Because of the
Twin Towers tragedy, I have left the Catholic church and
joined a charismatic church where I am better able to live my
life in His service. All my priorities have changed and I have a totally different focus on life.

I think that the victims of the tragedy and
their families should be remembered. We should all remember
that our freedom isn't free and that there is a price that
has been paid and will continue to be paid for it. WE should
not take many our freedoms for granted as we have in the
past. We should get back to God and thank Him every day
for what we have as Americans. We must also stop being the
spoiled children of the world and live up to the responsiblities
that the graciousness of God has granted us through His
many blessings.

Yes. I have always held the flag in great honor and respect.
I am more conscious of its symbolism now and the price
that was so freely paid for the freedoms that it represents.