September 11 2001: what I remember

I was 16 years old on September 11 2001.

I remember waking up a little later than usual (but still, rather early for most kids) to get ready for school since I didn't have morning workout for Water Polo that morning, and my dad telling me that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. At first, I thought it was a huge mistake, a gruesome accident that would have the FAA up in arms against an airline; when I found out that my hypothesis was wrong I wished even harder that I had originally been right, because I knew that this horrible event now had much larger implications. I will never forget watching television that morning, seeing footage of a beautiful, clear sky in New York City being disrupted by a horrid chain of events. Forever etched in my mind are the images of the second plane hitting the towers and later, people jumping to their deaths from many stories up.

I did go to school that day, but I couldn't tell you one thing that I learned in any of my classrooms. Instead, the only distinct memory I have of that day was sitting in Mr. Moon's fourth period Biology class, watching CNN. For the first time in my generation, war was waged within our borders. It amazed me how badly I wanted to quit watching the news coverage, but it was as though I was magnetized and I just couldn't bear to turn it off.

For a few weeks, even months, after the attacks, I noticed a spirit of patriotism I had never before seen (and doubt that I will see again), but over time it began to fade- as though our wound began to heal. It's still hard for me to think that our children won't ever quite fathom the events of that day.

Whatever your view on politics, war, or religion, I ask that we all take a moment to thank those who serve to protect us as we are reminded of the many that lost their lives that day in such a senseless act. To the policemen, firemen, and military who work to make our country safe, I thank you.