Never Forget!

It was just like any other ordinary Tuesday. I was a senior in high school running late, as usual, to College Algebra. I don’t remember what was taught that day (probably something I didn’t understand anyway), but right before the bell was getting ready to dismiss us from class, our principal came over the intercom informing everyone that 2 planes had just flown into the twin towers in New York City. There was no mention of an “attack”, but the students and staff were invited to the commons area to watch the coverage on a television that had been set up.

Like many of my classmates, I sat down and began watching the coverage, not even realizing the impact this would have on our world. The reporters then started discussing how it was an act of terrorism. I watched in shock as people were fleeing from the buildings…some even taking their own lives by jumping from stories high above the ground. Over and over again, the video of the second airplane flying into the World Trade Center was being played.

And then the unthinkable happened…the towers began to collapse. I watched the live coverage, covering my mouth in disbelief. All of those people trying to escape…all of those people were now gone. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers…The emotion of it all rushed over me like a terrible tide.

There was more. A plane flew into the pentagon and another plane, which was most likely headed for our nation’s capitol building, crashed in Pennsylvania. Heroes aboard flight 93 heroically battled hijackers to save more lives from being lost.

I remained in the commons area, watching the coverage until after lunch when we were then instructed to go back to class, as if everything was business as usual. The only other thing I remember about the school day was that a classmate of mine was wearing a rhinestone-covered t-shirt of the twin towers. Ironic and so terribly sad.

After school, I quickly drove to the gas station and waited in a line for over 30-minutes (and nearly 1/4 mile long) to fill up my car with gas. Everyone said the gas prices were rising substantially. I filled up my car for $1.79 per gallon that day…which seemed like an outrageous amount back then. I also ran into an old friend (who I had always had a crush on and who is now my husband). We chatted about how terrible the events of that day were and then we both went on our way. I don’t remember anything else that day, besides watching more news coverage when I got home.

The losses were devastating. The destruction, overwhelming.

In the days to come, however, I was amazed at how our country banded together. Nearly every car and business had an American Flag in the window. More people were coming to church. Lives were being surrendered to God. People were kind to each other. Even the Democrats and Republicans treated each other amicably for a while. People draw together in the face of adversity and tragedy.

Just like with any other tragedy, the people whom it doesn’t personally affect move on. And before we knew it, things slowly got back to “normal.” Even though normal now looked quite different…the New York skyline was forever altered, airplane travel was even more complicated and  “homeland security” became a household phrase.

This date will forever be etched into the memory of all Americans. It was the day that our world changed forever. But my heart yearns for it to be more than that. I yearn for the heroes and victims to be honored through our lives. Taking a moment to think beyond ourselves…to try and make this world a better place with one simple act. Let’s embrace the unity we felt on September 12, 2001. Let’s honor the lives of those who died and the brave men and women who have been working tirelessly to make sure this tragedy never repeats itself. Take a moment to thank our everyday heroes…men and women in the armed forces, firefighters, and police officers.

In the words of Alan Jackson, “Where were you when the world stopped turning, on that September day?”