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My life changed drastically due to September 11th. I was in fourth grade and we were all called to auditorium to watch the news. I remember my teachers crying and hugging each other and I did understand why. I couldn't imagine the consequences of that day, nor the effect it would play in my life. My father, who was in the National Guard Reserves, was activated that day and went down to the city. My future brother-in-law was there too, funnily enough he recognized his ambulance in one of my fathers photos years later. About a year and a half later he was deployed to Iraq for a year and just like that my father was out of my life. From 12 to 13 all I saw of him was through Skype and I would read the letters he sent to us. He built mess halls, schools, and other building for the Iraqi people, who he said where very friendly; something you never hear about on the news. Even though he came very close to losing his life when a suicide bomber found his way into his mess tent, he came back to us after his deployment. Just thinking that the fact that he and his friends were running a little late, determined what happened that day makes me shutter. My older brother was a senior when my father was deployed and he made the decision to go into the Navy. He served 5 years doing deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Japan. Thank God that they both made it through without any physical scars, and are both retired proud veterans of our country. My heart goes out to all of the soldiers who fight to for us, and also to the families who also sacrifice so much. Be strong. <3