Today marks the 19th anniversary of a day, now ominously known as "September 11th". On this day, we take some time out of our busy schedules to remember those who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001. It's surreal to think that such a horrible thing can happen to innocent people. No matter where you were in the country, and even if you didn't lose anyone personally, we all felt this tragedy. It shook us to our core.
I think about this day often...
I was in 2nd grade. The day had just started. Our teacher was in mid-sentence when someone came and pulled her aside. She didn't say anything to us; She went straight to the TV, flipped it on, and watched in horror. I remember one of my classmates asking if he could leave to go call his dad, who was in New York that day.
I remember leaving school. I remember the traffic, the chaos. I remember seeing the panic on my dad's face. Most importantly, I remember the fallen. I remember the brave men and women who were part of the rescue effort, I remember the passengers of each flight, I remember the 2,996 people who lost their lives that day.
It's been 19 years... people still suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally. The trauma will always be there, and it's important that we talk about it. WE REMEMBER.
I'll never forget how quickly we all came together. Seeing the flags hanging above nearly every doorstep. It was a small glimmer of hope.
Today, we do mourn the great loss our country suffered, but we also celebrate those wonderful lives. We continue to move forward, united.