We all remember what we were doing five years ago…September 11, 2001. Chris and I were at home, in our old apartment, asleep. We woke up to the sound of Chris’ mom knocking on our door. We got up to answer it, and the first words that she said were, “We’ve been attacked.” I’ll never forget the look on Chris’ face when she said that. Her next words were, “Will you have to go to war?”. My heart sank. Chris was in the Army Reserves at that time, and, with no information yet about what she was talking about, I felt the dread settle in around me.
The next few hours were spent watching the news. We had to hook up a t.v. in our apartment to watch it. We just sat there, watching the footage, over and over. It was hard to believe what had happened. It was surreal when I had to go to work that afternoon, like any other day. For, on that day, our lives as Americans were forever changed.
Kyra was conceived just a couple weeks after that day. It was a different thing to bring a child into a post September 11th world. You feared the world, and what marks it would leave on her. Would they attack us again? Would we be ready next time? Would her Daddy be here when she was born? Would he be deployed? What would happen? No one knew.
Life got back to normal again. American’s realized a patriotism that we hadn’t experienced before. American flags popped up everywhere. People put United We Stand stickers on their cars. My brother joined the Air Force to serve his country. People stepped up, and tried to do better and be better than we were before.
That’s what I hope that we will never forget.
September 11th was a turning point for our country. Don’t let it be in vain. Don’t forget those who keep us safe. Our local police, rescue workers, and firefighters serve and protect us every day. Don’t forget our service men and women who are serving at home and overseas. My brother just came home from Iraq, but lots of other peoples brothers and sisters and moms and dads, sons and daughters…they are still there. Lift them up in prayer, and don’t forget to ask God to bless America.