September 11th is only two days away. K-Love (radio station) has been mentioning it all week. It gets me thinking about that devastating day that took place ten years ago.
I was a freshman in high school sitting in Mr. Moyers government class when I first heard about it. I don't remember what class period that was. I'm thinking it was 2nd or 3rd hour. Mr. Moyers was able to get a hold of a tv. He wheeled it into the room and turned it on. Both towers had already been hit. He told us "Pay attention, you are watching history in the making." I don't remember seeing the towers fall or too much else that happened that day. I remember being worried for my Uncle Jim and being worried for my brother. I have no idea what my Uncle Jim does but I knew he worked for the government in some fashion and often traveled to Washington. I was worried for my brother because he was in the Marines at the time and deployed. I was also worried for Lindsay (my sister-in-law) being alone in North Carolina and watching this and then freaking out.
When I got home from school we just watched the news. When my dad got home from work he called either my Aunt Sandy or My Uncle and heard that he was fine.
My bothers deployment was unfortunately extended by at least three months I believe. He was among those first troops to be in Iraq after September 11th. I will never know what he went through. I love and appreciate what he and others like him were able to do for our country.
America's sense of patriotism was so high. It seemed everyone had those yellow ribbon magnets or flag magnets on their cars. America had a cause. How dare someone come into our country and threaten our sense of security. We were out to get those bastards who dared to threaten our freedom.
I can't believe that was ten years ago. I think of all the lives who have been forever changed. How many people died that day. It still breaks my heart and angers me. As an american I never expected any wars or attacks would ever happen on our home soil. That was always something that happened overseas.
K-Love has this make a difference event going on http://www.klove.com/ministry/make-a-difference.aspx
they want a million people to go out on 9/11/11and do something that will impact the world. I want to do something but blogging is the only thing I can think of. I'm hoping that any fellow bloggers out there will just share their story of where you were and what you were thinking after the attacks on 9/11/01.
I wish there was more I could do. I think about all the veterans who were serving during that time and got out like my brother did. They are still young. It was only ten years ago. I feel like my generation thinks of veterans as old homeless guys. My dad is a veteran but he retired from the military and has all those retirement benefits that come as a package deal for his service to our country. He earned those and I'm sure he is grateful to have them. I'm just wondering what our country does for it's veterans who didn't retire. I know there are some VA benefits but is it enough? I really wish I could personally say thank you to those who have served. They say they are just doing their job, but it's a job that is so much more than that. It is a job that requires you to put your best foot forward and represent the fighting spirit of America itself. If you have ever served our country I am forever grateful.
* Edit: Joe was not deployed during this time. He was deployed the next year. So I wasn't worried about Lindsay at this time. Oops. I was worried about her when he was deployed and I do believe that he was gone longer than anticipated.
I also wanted to say that I realize September 11th should not just be about the military and it isn't. It's about all those that lost their lives that day and the everyday heroes that stepped up and did their job. The firefighters and policeman of New York and surrounding areas. Being a military family I tend to see all things military and just wanted to make sure and correct myself.
I've been meaning to post on several of your posts recently but since I normally read your blog on my phone it's hard to do.
ReplyDeleteJoe and I weren't actually married then. I was in college and Joe was out in California. I was asleep in my dorm room when the first plane hit. Joe called me and told me to turn on my tv. I did and just a minute later I watched as the second plane hit. I was freaking. Within days there was talk of Joe's platoon being sent to Afghanistan. That's when we decided to move our wedding up to December with the understanding that if he was going to be deployed, I was on the next flight out to NC. Can't believe it's been 10 years.