nmah867.xml

nmah867.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-03

On the morning of September 11th, I woke up at six in the morning and was flipping channels on the t.v. I happen to come across the channel 9 news and saw the first plane hit the first tower. I was shocked. I thought that I was just imagining it all. I thought that I was still dreaming and didn't wake up when it happened. My mom came out of the shower and I told her what had happened. She gasped, put her hand over her mouth, her knees buckled and she fell to the couch. I was shocked. I finally realized that this wasn't a dream and I took in what had happened. I was beside myself. I couldn't believe that something of this magnitude could possibly happen. My dad woke up and he saw the news. All he could say was something that I can't write. You see my dad is a soldier in the Army and he feels that he needs to be with the other soldiers and do what needs to be done. But instead he's stuck here in Tucson recruiting people to join. I could remember the look still on my dad's face, even today. It was a combination of hatred and concern. My heart seemed to sink when the second tower was hit. I couldn't even support myself, even though I was sitting down. My world seemed to crumble. I know a lot of soldiers in the Army and I was afraid for them. I was even more afraid for the people in the towers. I couldn't even begin to imagine what they were going through. My mind's imagination couldn't justify the the horror or nightmarish scene that was taking place for them. I could only wish that they were in the hands of hope and God. I sent all my strength, love, support and hope with all those that were there. That day the base (Davis Monthan Air Force Base)was on big time alert. Traffic incoming and outgoing was awol. My mom, being the overprotective mother that she is, said that we were to stay at home that day. I could understand where she was coming from. I just wanted to be held by my family and to feel safe. I needed the reassurance that I was okay. We stayed home and the whole time I was still in a state of shock. I couldn't comprehend that this was reality. I sat there on the couch for about ten minutes just pinching myself, hoping that it was a dream. My sister came up to me and asked what I was doing and I looked at her and tears fell down my face. And yet I continued to pinch myself. She tried to stop me but I couldn't I had to prove that it was all a bad dream that I needed to wake up from. She finally succeeded and I broke into that harsh reality like a broken mirror and I could even here the shards falling to the ground. All I could do was cry. And then I said....Why?

I believe that my life has changed. I am more conscience about what happens in the middle east and the military activity that happens. I am afraid that what this 'shadow war' that we have created on both sides, will one day progress into something that neither of us want. When the base goes on alert I get scared and I think that something has happened that we need to know about. I finally realize what it means to be the proud daughter of the American life. And what it mean to be the citizen of the nation that I live in. For all those that died, I hold my head up high and remember that they are with us always.

I think that the unity and the coming together of all the people: big, small, fat, skinny, young and old alike, white, black, brown and tan is what should be remembered about September 11th. That day brought together a nation and helped us all remember what it means to be human. That human ignorance and stupidity of prejudice was forgotten and all came together to show the true meaning of what it means to be a human being. All of our life we strive to figure out what the meaning of life is or what it means to be a human. But in that moment of tragedy, I saw what it meant to be a human and what the meaning of life truly was. I can't seem to find the words, even now as I write this, but I can say that the awesome power of love and unity that I felt was so overpowering that I was left speechless.

Yes I did fly the American flag after the events of September 11th. I feel that that flag has a lot more meaning now that it ever has. I always had a respect for the flag and always cherished it. But now I feel even more love, honor and loyalty to it. It is because of that flag that I am free and able to choose what I want to do with my life.
However it is also because of that flag that we were attacked in the first place. And yet I feel no ill will towards it. Instead I am happy that that flags still flies. I am moved to say my favorite three verses from a song that I hold to my heart:
Whose broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
Over rampart we marched
Was so gallantly streaming

And the rockets red glare
The bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night
That the flag was still there

Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave
For the land of the FREE
And the home of the BRAVE.