nmah6195.xml

nmah6195.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2003-09-11

I was at home watching the events on television from my home in Alabama. My husband, an Air Force officer was on temporary duty at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He called to let me know that he was sent home from the post. There was a fear that other government sites might be attacked. So, until all the planes were grounded, it was safer for everyone to go home. The next day when we talked on the phone I told him that I wanted to go to Washington, DC. He had been there many times to attend meetings at the Pentagon, but the children and I hadn't. I said that I wanted to go see our national treasures because we can no longer take them for granted. They may not be there forever. In the summer of 2002 we took our children and our German exchange student to DC and to New York. We found it disturbing that tourist were treating the WTC site as a photo op. There was a couple with their young children there who asked someone to take their picture in front of the site with them smiling as if they were standing in front of the Grand Canyon. We couldn't see the makeshift memorial because vendors selling pictures of the burning buildings, trinkets with pictures of the buildings, and even hot dogs were standing in the way. My teenage daughter said that she never wanted to return to the site. I still feel anger when I think of the people making money off this tragedy by selling cheap junk with images of the WTC on it. I have been to Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima. Neither were the circus that New York was that day. I hope we can find a better way to remember the victims.

Since 9/11/2001, I returned to school to get a Master of Political Science degree. I am now working for the US Army in doctrine development. I applied for many jobs with the US military. I want to help fight terorrism in any way I can. I am more resolved to serve my country than ever.

Not just the victims, but their families, too. There have been many children left without a parent because of these attacks. I think the tribute today involving the children was a beautiful way to remind us not only of those that were lost, but that there is a part of them left with us.

We have always flown the flag because we are a military family. I am even more proud of the flag and what it represents.