9/11 We Will Never Forget

In 2005, I stood at Ground Zero.  There I was, just staring into a gigantic hole of rubble.  It didn’t seem real.  I looked up at the steel beam cross positioned in the middle of the destruction and I was brought to tears.  People had jumped to their death where I was standing.  People had made frantic phone calls to loved ones in this spot.  First responders had rushed in to try and save their fellow Americans, only to get trapped themselves.  I wiped away tear after tear.

What a horrible day.  We ALL remember where we were on that day if you are old enough.  Everyone describes looking at the T.V. in utter disbelief.  It just didn’t seem possible.  How could this happen?

And didn’t we all ache for those lost that day?  It was like they were brothers and sisters to us.  And they were.  I often think on this day about what was going through the minds of the people that lost their lives and it must have been sheer, unindultrated fear.  I can’t even fathom….not even for a second.

But, I had another emotion that day when I stood at Ground Zero and it was pride.  So much pride.  We live in a country filled with heros and, dear God, it is so beautiful.  Sure this country has its not-so-shining moments, but on a whole we are one pretty amazing country, aren’t we?  When I think of this country I’m reminded of the words from a song, “People throw rocks at things that shine.”  And, boy, did they throw some pretty big rocks that day–planes to be exact.  No matter how many rocks are thrown at us, we must always continue to be a positive, inspiring light.  The greater tragedy would be if one of those rocks snuffed us out completely.

It never fails to amaze me how a tragedy can bring out the best in our country.  We were so united after 9/11; so bonded to one another.  Our fellow Americans had been wronged to a degree that was unimaginable and that was unacceptable.  Tragedies have a way of doing that–they either bring out the best or the worst.  And for the most part, in this country, we always rise to the best version of Americans we can be.  It would be most remarkable if we could maintain that at all times; tragedy or not.

So, to the mothers who never got to hug their babies one more time, we will never forget.  To the fathers who never got to play catch one more time with their kids, we will never forget.  To the spouses who never got to share dreams and memories again, we will never forget.  To the everyday Americans just doing their thing on that fateful day, we will never forget.  To the rescue workers who showed hearts of courage, we will never forget.  To the families that grieve this day more than any other in the year, we will never forget.  And to those that threw the rocks, Americans will never forget and don’t YOU forget that.

God Bless.