10 Years Later

Ten years ago I was 21 years old. I had been married for 9 months, and was unemployed. I remember being awakened by the phone around 7:15 am on the morning of 9/11/01. My brother Reid called to tell us to turn on the TV. The World Trade Center had just been hit by an airplane. At that time it wasn't known that this was a terrorist attack.

Ben and I jumped out of bed and turned on the TV. We watched in horror as we saw the flames engulfing the top of the 1st tower. The horror quickly grew as we watched a plane hit the 2nd tower. It didn't matter that we were thousands of miles away. The impact of the situation hit me as if I were there. I was glued to the TV. I watched as the towers fell, as people were running for their lives, and as people were desperately trying to save others. I remember the feeling of helplessness. I wished so badly that I could do something to help. I remember praying for the people of New York, and for our Nation. Even though I didn't personally know anyone there, I felt as though I lost loved ones that day.

I remember watching Katie Couric reporting on the Today Show. The scene of the planes hitting the building played out in the background. It was so surreal to watch. I couldn't believe what was happening. As the morning progressed, there was even more tragedy as another plane hit the Pentagon, and one believed to be headed for the Capitol, went down in a field in Pennsylvania.

My sister Kim had just returned from a trip to NYC, and had been at the World Trade Center exactly one week to the day before the events happened on September 11th. I was so grateful that she was not there that day.

As I reflected today on the events 10 years ago, my thoughts turned to those who lost their lives, to the heroes who gave their lives, and the families who still grieve those who were lost. I pray for them, and I pray for all of us.

We are the United States of America, and UNITED we STAND. I am proud to be an American.

I wrote the following poem today in memory of September 11, 2001: 


10 Years Later

10 years later
The horror
The magnitude
The fear that was instilled
Still remains

10 years later
The hope
The faith
The unity that became
Still remains

10 years later
Lives were lost
Heroes were made
The memories still remain

10 years later
I will never forget 9/11/01