I can't believe it's been eight years since that dreadful September day...09/11/01...
Our two youngest sons were still at home...seniors...I was home schooling...we were in the middle of our class day when our daughter called from work...in tears, crying...saying that planes were crashing into buildings...told us to turn on the television...we tuned in just in time to see the first World Trade tower collapse...we watched in horror...in disbelief...it looked like a Hollywood movie...we sat glued to the television...heard about the other hijacked planes...listened to the news as it was announced that all flights were ordered to be grounded...heard the local news about our area power plants and the Garrison dam being put on the highest security levels...got the call that our oldest son, who had recently completed his tour of duty with the US Army and had enlisted in the Army National Guard, was put on high alert and had his equipment stowed in the trunk of his car in case he was suddenly called up...wondering if the madness would stop...being comforted by the many prayer meetings that sprung up all over the country...feeling tremendous sorrow for all the families who lost loved ones in the attacks...feeling proud of the way our country pulled together...of the outpouring of patriotism, of the increase in the displays of the American flag...feeling sadness and loss from watching the memorial services...and then watching as so many of our local young people entered the military, including our two youngest sons...many of them serving in Iraq and Afghanistan...
...feeling proud yet possessing a certain sadness that our youngest son just re-enlisted for six more years in the US Navy...
We remember the horror, the heroism, the tremendous cost of our freedom...and we honor those who paid the ultimate price with our memories and our unending gratitude...we will never forget you...and may we never forget that freedom isn't free...
Thanks for stopping by today...
Anita
