nmah869.xml

nmah869.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-03

September 11 is one of the most memorable days of my life. I remember I woke up around 7 in the morning to a phone call. My mom's friend had rung up and said to turn on the news. We flip on the television and footage of the first tower being struck by the plane and eventually collapsing was playing, over and over. My initial feeling was of shock. Then I thought of my family on the east coast, my uncle who works in downtown Manhattan. Were they ok? We tried calling New York, but the lines were all busy. I remember my parents driving me to school with NPR on, listening to all the conflicting theories and news that was being relayed through the lines. I had a test in Western Civ that day, but I remember being too upset to take it. The day was so surreal. In a few classes we watched the news, and it was unreal to watch some of the most colossal buildings fall to the ground.

I don't think anyone's life can really be the same after 9/11. Safety is now a huge issue, especially airline safety. But I know that if I were on a plane and someone tried to pull something, I trust that now people are more aware of their surroundings, and would do something about it. Taking charge is what many heroes did on 9/11, and it saved many lives. Our nation has really come together and the American conciousness has changed. We've become more aware of sharing the experience of being American and also I think we've become more aware of life's fragility. At least, I have. So many people lost husbands, wives, children, siblings, and were never able to say goodbye. It's important to consider the fleeting quality of life, and recognize everyone around you.

Everyone who died should be remembered. Hero has really taken on a new meaning these days. The firefighters who went back up into the towers to save the lives of employees, the men and women on the planes, the men and women who did their best to save the lives of their co-workers.

I don't honestly remember if we flew an American flag after September 11. I know that my sentimentality regarding our flag really increased. The red of the stripes really represented not only the blood of the people who gave their lives for our country years and years ago, but also for the blood of those lost on September 11. In some places the flag was flown upside-down or at half-mast, and seeing that reminded me of how much our country had lost in September.