nmah1756.xml

nmah1756.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-09

On September 11, 2001, I watched in horror as America lost it's innocence. I went to work that day, as I do everyday, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to take place less than one hour after I arrived at the office. Shortly after 8:45 in the morning, I received an e-mail stating that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I thought to myself at the time that it must have been a small private plane and something had gone terribly wrong for the unfortunate pilot. As we turned on the office television to get more information, my heart sank as I realized it was not a small plane, but instead a jetliner full of people...and words cannot begin to express what I felt at seeing another plane hit the second tower just minutes later. I knew at that moment that this was no accident. How can a person prepare for something as significant and life-altering as this? You can't. I will never be able to get the images of that fateful day out of my mind...images of innocent, helpless people jumping out of windows to a certain death hundreds of feet above the ground...images of burning buildings with countless men and women trapped inside...images of grief-stricken observers who could do nothing but watch in horror and wonder where it would end...images of the two most prominent buildings in the Manhattan skyline crumbling into ash and debris...images of the Pentagon ravaged by fire and death. It was the first time in my life that I can remember feeling completely and utterly helpless. It was truly a day that will live in infamy and one that I will never forget...because failing to remember means I would be as guilty as the terrorists who committed this indecent, heinous act against America.

I think all Americans' lives were changed as a result of September 11, 2001. We realized that we were not as safe and secure as we thought we were. It was a reality check for all of us. Personally, I did not know anyone who perished on that day. For that I am most thankful and grateful to God. However, so many people died that it is difficult not to empathize with those who did lose a loved one. We are all Americans and we all lost something that day. It is only through coming together and standing tall in the midst of terror that we will heal from these tragic events. My life changed drastically over the past year in that I no longer take freedom for granted. I have learned that being an American doesn't mean exemption from tragedy and terrorism. I have learned that in times of great distress, we all do come together, forget our differences and help one another. I have learned that we are now stronger than we were before September 11, 2001, and we will rise above this catastrophe and do everything in our power to prevent something like this from ever happening again.

Most significantly, the loss of life on September 11, 2001, is what should be remembered. More than 3,000 innocent men and women lost their lives that day while some insane lunatic in Afghanistan cheered and congratulated the monsters who carried out his plan of attack. Buildings can be re-built...hurt and despair are healed given time...the goverment is working to make us feel safe...but human life, once gone, cannot be replaced. Those who perished are gone forever - but they are most certainly not forgotten. We must also remember that these events brought us closer as Americans. We must never forget that which brought us together. It was our faith...our heritage...our freedom...our liberty. We must stay strong and support one another always...for when we fail to do so, we once again become susceptible. If we become susceptible, we become targets again. But, if we show terrorists that we are strong enough to rise up in victory after something like this, we also show them that they were unsuccessful in their motive when they attacked.

I have always revered the American flag because I have always appreciated what it means to be an American. After September 11, 2001, I have even more respect for the stars and stripes. I support the courageous, wonderful men and women in the armed forces who are, as we speak, continuing the fight against terrorism on our behalf. It is because of them that we can fly our flag with pride and dignity.