nmah6259.xml

nmah6259.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-12

I was working for an asphalt paving company at the time the WTC was struck. I was on Interstate 66 Eastbound in Northern Virginia when our crew foreman told us that the Trade Center had been struck. By the time I had turned on the radio in the car the Pentagon had just been struck. I thought it was some sort of sick dream. I've always been a fan of Tom Clancy's novels and this is what it sounded like- a novel. My job released us all to go home to our families and when I returned to my house I sat fixated in front of the television just to see if what I had been hearing on the radio was just a sick daydream of some sort.

My life has completely changed since 9/11/01. I had been out of the U.S. Army since 9/16/98 and when 9/11 happened I felt an overwhelming force tell me that I should rejoin the military. I joined the National Guard and am currently in the process of trying to get back onto active duty. I feel guilty everytime some sort of action against terrorism happens, because I'm not over there helping my brothers and sisters in arms even though I am still in the military.

I think that 9/11 should be remembered for the sacrifices that were made by all of the rescue personnel, police departments, military personnel, and most of all the innocent civilians that lost their lives. 9/11 wasn't about structures being targeted, it was about the loss of human life and the bravery shown by everyone that helped during the attacks and afterwards during the search, recovery, salvage, and rebuilding. Their steadfast determination to rebuild helped to start the nation on a path of continuous healing.

I flew my flag in front of my house with pride even before 9/11. After the attacks that flag flew even higher because I was so proud at how this country had reacted and the patriotism that had been reborn.