nmah5049.xml

nmah5049.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-16

I was in my old school's auditorium. 4th row, 3rd seat. After I look back on what we were doing, it seems, ironically, to fit the situation perfectly, like it was meant to be right then, at the exact same time. It was our whole mini-school, mini-school 7-2, we were learning how to do the Pledge of Allegience in sigh language. My teacher, Ms. Newman, who is very emotional and beautiful inside and out, was teaching it to us, and right before she got the news, she told us how wonderful and heart-warming it was to see us practicing and taking it so seriously. Ironic... I know. Right then, another tacher who had been in the tacher's lounge watching the news and grading papers came in with a horror-stricken look on her face. She walked briskly up to Ms. Newman and whispered, what we would soon find out, awful and devastating news. Ms. Newman stood there for a solemn moment, with tears streaming down her cheeks. She finally, after what seemed like forever, turned around and faced all of our confused faces. She told us that we had been attacked. America, our America, had been attacked by terrorists. A plane had just hit one of the Twin Towers in New York. I sat there, stunned but dumbfounded, "What exactly does this mean? Are we in war, are we going to go into war? How could someone hate us so much?" A million thoughts were running through my head when I noticed all the kids around me stand up and start walking out off the auditorium. I have never seen us walk so quietly or quickly to our 3rd period classes. We went in and sat down in little groups talking about what we thought it meant. We were sure of one thing though, this was not good.

Yes it has. I no longer take my family for granted. I have so much more respect for the Pledge of Allegience and our nation's flag. When I am standing in home-room I don't mumble it like I used to or not say it at all. I say it, standing tall, and with pride.

I think we should remember the heroes of that day. Yes, the firefighters, but also the people who gave blood, or donated drinks and canned food. Also the victims, the people who died right when the plane hit, the people who couldn't make it out in time, the firefighters who were saving lives when they died, and every single one of their families.

Yes, my feelings have changed. Even though my dad had to make a make-shirt flagpole with a stick and our satellite dish, hehe, we flew it with pride. We are Americans, and we will alway be Americans. Our nation's flag is symbol of how strong and proud we Americans are.