nmah5211.xml

nmah5211.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-10-06

I work for the Killeen Independent School District in Killeen Texas, we are right next to Ft. Hood (the largest military base in the world). There are 7 schools on or directly around the Army base out of our total of 43 campuses. Our office opens at 7am and we reported in for work just like any other day. A friend of mine who lives up in Maryland messaged me that a plane had struck one of the WTC's. I went directly to CNN.com and saw the initial photo's. We all thought at first it was just some horrific accident. She proceeded to get ready for work but came back a few minutes later to tell me another plane had struck another tower. I knew then that it was no accident, I come for a long line of military tradition, serving a little over 5 years in the U.S. Air Force myself. I tried once again to get on CNN.com to see what was going on but net congestion was just too much. I couldn't pull up any information from the net. The Plant Services Director came in and got us a TV so we can follow the events of what was going on. It affected our school distract very profoundly.

I believe it has, all of my siblings are or were active duty at some time. I had 2 brothers still active and knew the chances of them being deployed were great. I was torn between feeling glad or sad knowing I couldn't be recalled back into active duty. But it has made me aware that there is more to the world then my own little life, it's broaden my horizon in the knowledge that I can't always hide the worlds troubles in pretending to ignore it.

The lives that were lost, the children who never got the chance to grow up. The fathers or soon to be fathers who left to go to work or about their daily lives while leaving their pregnant wives at home. And the fact how the whole nation, yes even I dare say the world, as come together in this tragic experience. The hero's in the air and on the ground. The ones who lost their lives trying to save ours.

I didn't fly an American flag but I do have the magnent ones on my car.