story7763.xml

story7763.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-17

Before September 11, 2001, the fact that my mom worked for the government was not a big danger issue to me. She works across the street from the Pentagon for the Defense Department. Up until then, I never thought that her life might be endangered because of whom my mom worked for. That day I went to school and my mom went to work. It seems like another ordinary day for my family. However, that was about to change.

I was sitting in my fourth period class reading something for AP Lang when I heard what had happened. Another English teacher came running into our room announcing that airplanes had struck the Twin Towers. I immediately turned to my friend Christina and said, "At least they haven't hit the Pentagon". Less than five minutes after I said that, our assistant principal's voice came over the P.A. system and announced that the Pentagon had also been a target. Rumors were beginning to circulate that these were terrorist actions being taken against the United States and who was behind these sorts of actions. My thoughts were far from that. They were focused on, "Where is my mom"? and "Is she ok"? Since her office is across from the Pentagon, I kept looking at the TV for a glimpse of her office in the background. I had no luck succeeding in this before I realized that my mom was out of her office and up at Capitol Hill for the day. I went to Mrs. McDowell's room and called my mom's office, hoping to get in contact with anyone. I was still calm until I heard her voice on the answering machine and I immediately broke down. I then went to lunch in Mrs. Owens' room and called my dad. I asked him where my mom was and he answered me with, "I don't know. Where is she"? A lot of help my dad was. I then went through the rest of the day thinking and worrying if my mom was ok.

I got home and there were five messages on my answering machine; most of them from my step-grandma informing me that my mom was ok. She had spoken to her earlier and wanted to let me know that my mom's cell phone wasn't working in her area, but that she was ok and would be home as soon as the mess and traffic calmed down. A huge sigh of relief went over me and I was able to calm down. My next concern was dealing with my friend, Tim, who is a member of the United States Marine Corps. I was worried that he would be sent away before I could get a chance to say good-bye. He, however, was only assigned to stay within the barracks of Camp Lejeune, and would not be sent out immediately. This caused another wave of relief to come over me.

It's been a year and six days since the attacks and my life has gone back to normal. My mom still works across the street from the Pentagon, in the same office as before. Security is a little bit stricter at her office, but no drastic changes have occurred. My friend Tim was recently sent overseas for a six-month float in the Mediterranean Sea. My family is more patriotic now, which in a sense is sad. It's sad that it has taken an event like 9-11 to cause people to realize how lucky we are to be living in a country like the United States and that we really aren't an invincible as we think we are. It took the attacks on the WTC, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania to cause a surge of American pride to go through the country and for us to recognize that we are just as vulnerable as any other country. However, I am still honored to say that I am a proud American. God Bless the USA!