remembering.

I wasn't planning on writing a post regarding the events surrounding 9/11, but as the day went on, I felt the need to write all my thoughts and feelings down. More for my own sake, I guess. And maybe even for future generations. I want to share my personal account of September 11, 2001.

I was 11 years old. I was sitting in my sixth grade classroom in Oak Hill, Virginia. As we worked at our desks, teachers kept coming into our classroom to speak with my teacher, Mrs. Swanson. Not thinking much of it, I kept working. Then they turned on the news. The World Trade Center was under attack. I had no idea what the World Trade Center was, but then I heard the three words that would clarify everything for me. "The Twin Towers." The Twin Towers?! I knew what those were. I couldn't believe it. Two planes had flown into the Twin Towers?! The next thing I knew, parents began checking their kids out of school. It wasn't long before all of us were home, sitting in front of our TVs, watching the news on repeat.

Upon learning of the plane that hit the Pentagon, it suddenly became so terribly close to home - quite literally. The Pentagon was not more than ten miles from my childhood home. The plane that hit the Pentagon flew out of an airport located not more than five miles from my home. The hijacked plane flew right over our high school.  A family friend of ours, reserved a ticket for this flight, but changed it at the last minute the night before. Truly all so very, very close to home. I remember sitting in front of the TV for the next few days, watching the footage over and over and over again. The images of both Manhattan and D.C., forever burned in my mind, are just as surreal to me today as they were back then.

Ten years later, I remember this day with great sobriety. My prayers go out to all those that lost their loved ones in these horrific events ten years ago. In the theme of remembering 9/11 Danny and I watched "United 93". I remember not being able to get past the first few minutes of the film when it aired on TV. It was all too real. But today I toughened up and watched it. And tough to watch it, it was. I shuddered at the thought of being on that flight, in the place of one of those valiant passengers. My heart broke over and over as I watched the phone calls to loved ones being made. As I looked over at Danny snoozing by my side, I thought about having to make that call to him. I thought about having to make that call to my mom, my dad, or my sisters. I couldn't even begin to imagine it. The thought terrifies me.

Though I will always feel the scars from the events that transpired on 9/11, I am so grateful that my loved ones were kept safe. Today's reminders have, in turn, reminded me that any day could be my last, that I should not take that fact, or the lives of those around me for granted.

I am also grateful for my country. I am so grateful for the heroes that came out of these events; the citizens that rerouted United 93, the citizens that went back up the stairs of the towers, truly anyone and everyone that fought to protect America and her people. The stories I've heard of such citizens have truly touched my heart. Though America is so often under criticism, we must not go so far as to overlook the good deeds performed by her citizens - citizens that fight to protect our right to live, a freedom that America is founded upon, a freedom that the terrorists took from the victims of that day. The right to live.

I love my New York. I love my Washington, D.C. I love my America. God bless all those that fought for her that day. May we not let the brave acts of those we lost be in vain. May we continue to keep America true. May we never forget.