4 years

September 11, 2001

I was sleeping peacefully when my husband woke me up. "Honey, wake up. Come out here." It was still dark outside, but I could hear the urgency in his voice. The bright light of the television screen stung my eyes. I rubbed them hard, not allowing them the proper amount of time to adjust. Like the rest of the country, I was shocked and horrified by the raw footage that was being sent through cable lines and into my home. This was not a movie nor was it some sick new video game. This was real. With a second plane aimed straight for the second tower, reports of an "accident" were replaced with the unthinkable. This is on purpose. This is no accident. America is under attacked.

At that moment I could not have known what was to come next or how this day would change America forever. I just knew that it would.
What did come next was unexpected. The scene went from horrible to horrific. The media could not keep up. Planes were crashing everywhere it seemed. Then I watched, unable to move, as an entire NY building...a skyscraper, a landmark... disappear, taking along with it heroes, moms, dads, children, sons & daughters. Vice President Chaney went into hiding. Air Force One became the ONLY plane in the sky. America had been kicked in the gut.

It was a Tuesday. My youngest daughter was in Kindergarten. I worked in her classroom every Tuesday morning. We dressed and tried to get ourselves ready, stopping every now and then to see what was happening. At school teachers in every room were discussing the situation with their students. Before class, Megan's teacher had decided not to say anything unless it came up. In the morning opening circle, a little girl raised her hand and politely told the teacher that airplanes had crashed into 2 big buildings and killed a bunch of people. "Yes, I know." said Mrs. Munsee. Then the little girl asked the question that still hasn't been fully answered..."Why?"
During art time the kids were allowed to draw pictures of whatever they wanted. All of them had at least two tall buildings and one airplane. Most had people in the drawings as well. It broke my heart. I had a hard time holding back my tears. My daughter, who loves to draw, chose to play in the toy kitchen area instead.

The media was quick to show footage of President Bush being told about the attacks while he was sitting with a group of children. Many were upset that he didn't jump from his seat that very second with vile anger emanating from his nostrils. They said he didn't care! I said he didn't panic...he was processing information, mulling over his next move and maintaining composure, which was a good thing considering there were children in the room! What could he have done right then that would have changed anything? Certainly the wheels were already in motion.


The death toll started out in the hundreds and grew to the thousands by the end of the day. Unprecedented amounts of money started rolling into accounts for The Red Cross.

America vowed to find and destroy the criminals responsible. We were asked to get ready for a long hard fight.

4 years is not really that long. We have not finished the war.
The enemy is still running free...hoping to hit us again.

The dead are still dead. We will not forget their bravery and courage. For all the average men, women and children who became heroes that day, who didn't see it coming, who died to save others they would never live to meet...I pray for you and your loved ones; your friends and family. All those who suffered and still suffer, I remember and ask the Lord for his mercies upon you.

Today we find our Nation once again deep in destruction. Yet not caused by the hatred of man, but rather the very nature of our universe. There have been worse storms than Katrina (100,00+ died in the tsunami). Can you even comprehend that? I can't.

But today is 9/11...Stop and remember.