May We Never Forget.

There are days that fade in and out of memory, but today will never be one of them. Its early morning on September 11th 2011,  as I went with my family to put up flags around our neighborhood I couldn't help but go back ten years ago and think of all the lives that were changed on this day, including mine.  Everyone says they will never forget where they were when they heard about the attacks on 9-11-01, and I am no exception.  I was ten years old.  This is what I remember about the day that changed our Nation forever:

September 11, 2001
I remember waking up to get ready for another exciting day of 5th grade. I went out to eat breakfast as I always did and usually watch a little T.V. today was different. I remember my mom had the news turned on and there was smoke billowing out of the World Trade Center. 
We watched for a while and then headed to school; i remember walking through the office, the library, the halls, the normal hustle of those busy places had fallen silent. No phones rang, no one spoke, and the eyes of all the teacher and adults were fixated on the television in the Green Acres library.  For most students once they reached their classrooms the tragedy that was unfolding before our eyes was shielded from them and their day went on.  But not for me, I remember walking into class and the same images poured out in front of me from the screen placed in my class room as the second tower was hit.
My teacher and little 5th grade class watched that terrible day unfold on live television all day. We saw every poor soul who leaped for their final deliverance from the top of the towers; we saw the fire, the smoke, the fear, the crash and collapse of both towers.
I remember when it was time for recess no one played, no one talked, and every time a plane flew over our heads we all instantly looked up expecting it to come crashing down on us.
My teacher had us draw pictures and write about what we saw.  I didn't keep what i drew, but i remember being sick to my stomach as i drew little people falling out of windows and the fire consuming the upper floors of the World Trade Center.

May we never forget, not only the attacks on the The World Trade Center, The Pentagon, and those who brought down the plane in Pennsylvania, but how united we were as a nation during the time that followed.  Even at 10 I had a feeling of unity and love for all Americans.  I remember how we all banded together from that day forward and although the smoke has dissipated and the victims have been laid to rest, may we never forget.  Never forget how precious life is, how blessed we are to live in America, and how much we owe to those serving our country. May we never ever forget.

God Bless America!