September 11th, 2001

Admin
Sep 11, 2017
3 min read

It's so hard to believe that it has been 16 years since this tragic day. I will never forget walking past my history teachers room in 8th grade and seeing both buildings on fire. I instantly knew there was something really wrong. I wouldn't fully understand what was going on until I got to my first hour class. Our eyes were glued to the tv. Watching our country be attacked by these awful terrorists.

I love the news, my parents tease me because I usually know what is going on in Twin Falls, ID before they do. This day was no different. I remember getting home from school and turning the news on. I wanted to know every single detail about what was going on. I watched as our country become one and for a long time race, politics, gender, none of that mattered. The only thing that mattered was America was not broken. America had just become so much stronger.

I still remember the emotions I felt. I was so sad, scared, & angry. How could someone or people do this to our beautiful country? How could this free land be under attack? How did we not know what was going on? All these questions went through my mind. I just couldn't wrap my head around the hurt our great nation was feeling!

My senior year of high school, I had the opportunity to go to New York for a Choir tour. We went to Ground Zero and at the time it was nothing but rubble. The Catholic Church right across the street was acting as the museum for all the belongings left behind. It was such an emotional and humbling experience.

Ten years later I was able to go back. The respect I have for our first responders and military personnel was brought to a whole new level of appreciation. I am so grateful for all they do to keep us safe. My mom and I were able to tour the 9/11 Memorial, there were times the tears would just flow down my face. My heart hurt so bad for these families that lost loved ones. I was so grateful for the selflessness of so many Americans who had families and loved ones waiting for them to come home, but instead they helped the thousands of people to safety. There were thousands of heroes that day. Ones still alive and ones that did not make it to see tomorrow.

While touring the memorial there is a wall with blue paintings, each painting is a different shade of blue and each painting represents someone who lost their lives. On this wall there is a Quote it reads : "NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME." How powerful is that? We constantly talk about 9/11 and the brave people who sacrificed their lives. We have a book that we read and Ryker insists on knowing all about it. I feel it's so important to teach them the history of what has gone on, but more importantly, I have enjoyed teaching and showing them how America became one.

16 years ago, I would never have imagined that today would be MUCH worse, not only because of the evil acts of terrorism that have occurred but also how divided we have become. Freedom of speech & religion have been traded for hate and anger. I don't know about you, but I am tired of the hatred and negativity. America is so MUCH better than that. It is my hope that we can all find peace and respect each other. In a time when we all really needed to come together, we did! It was a beautiful thing to watch.

Thank you to all the EMT's, Firefighters, Police Officers, Nurses, Doctors, 911 dispatchers, Security officers, and last but certainly NOT least our Military. We are FREE because of your sacrifices.

I am proud to be an American! I am proud of the Flag! I am proud of our military for continuing to fight for our freedoms. I am proud, are you?

cyh -

Chelsea