I know, those of us old enough, remember all too well where we were at the moments those planes slammed into the towers, Pentagon, and that lonely field, shattering our sense of safety, peace, and security. Flags popped up on front porches where they had never flown before. Knees were bent in prayer as we sought God’s presence. People embraced each other, cried with each other, comforted each other, and loved each other. We vowed to never forget. Have we? I pray it doesn’t take another tragedy like this to unite this country again.
I was at my job at the post office. I had a small tv in my office and it was on as we worked so we could listen to the news. We heard the tone of urgency and disbelief as the first plane slammed into that tower. We each dropped our work and ran to stand in front of that tv, never expecting to witness the next plane slam into the second building. Up to that moment, we thought the first one must have been a tragic accident. When we saw that second plane hit, we stood in disbelief and complete sorrow.
The mail still had to be delivered, so we struggled through, but our hearts were heavier than any amount of mail any of us had ever dealt with. I think we went about doing what our minds knew we had to do, but our hearts were broken. I’m not sure we could think or talk of anything but what we had just seen. I’m not sure we talked much at all. What could we say? We were scared, shattered, confused, worried, and most of all, we were consumed with sadness. How could this have happened? We weren’t use to our country being invaded with so much hate that people would willingly die just to try to destroy us? Why?
Thankfully, I personally didn’t know anyone whose life was taken that day. Yet, the pain I felt was so great, I couldn’t even begin to fathom how much those loved ones must have been hurting. I could only imagine the anxiety of not knowing their fate. It would be a while before we would have that fateful, final number of casualties. While we watched the endless news accounts, there were mothers and fathers trying to hold it together as their sons and daughters either told them they were signing up for the military, or told them they were being sent to vindicate this horrible assault on our homeland.
My mind went to the children who were alone waiting for a mom or dad that would never come. I thought of the faithful pets who waited for their person who never came. My mind went everywhere and seemed to get lost with all the thoughts that were jumbled together and kept getting tossed around in my brain. My mind filled with anger at those responsible.
My heart was broken in a million pieces. I grieved for people I didn’t know. I just knew those lives lost were human beings loved by someone who would feel a loss and pain that would never go away. I hadn’t even begun to contemplate how the country we knew would never be the same. I hadn’t realized yet how we, as people, would never be the same. Our lives and way of living would be forever changed.
That day, normal people started their day probably much like they do every say. Some rushed out the doors, coffee in hand, racing against the clock to get to work on time. Some were probably double checking boarding passes one more time before boarding that plane. Some were suited up, preparing to protect citizens, patrol assigned areas, praying nothing happened to prevent them from coming home to loved ones. None of those lives lost could have even imagined how that day would end. For so many, there would be no more kisses goodnight or as they were walking out the door in the morning. So many children would never again get to throw the football with dad, or go shopping with mom. Too many Moms and Dads could never imagine that smile, or “I love you” would be seen or heard for the last time. All that had been stolen from so many just because of hate. Too many victims that didn’t even know the person who would murder them. Murderers would kill people they didn’t know for reasons we can’t even comprehend. Hate and pure evil had invaded America.
In spite of the incredible pain and grief, in the middle of the chaos and devastation, America spread its wings like the wings of the beautiful, yet fierce Eagle. Our strength, might, bravery and resilience stood up and took action. We may have been temporary sidelined, but we would come back and finish the game. The evil that had tried to destroy America would feel our wrath and know who we were is still who we are, only stronger.
As I wrote earlier in this blog, the things that make America great took control of our hearts and minds. We were reminded how much we loved, how compassionate we were, how incredibly blessed we were to live in America. We stood up and vowed to never forget. I fear we did forget. All those people who perished that day are weeping with sorrow , not that they died, but that they seem to have died in vain. All those knees that had hit the ground in prayers to God, have gotten too smooth from non-use. Those arms that embraced and consoled have gone slack with lack of empathy. The love has grown into the hate we vowed to avenge. The God we cried out to and sought out has been mocked and blocked. We have kicked him out of our establishments. We have broken every Ten Commandments Moses fought to preserve. We are erasing any memory of the past that doesn’t agree with us. We have closed the door on past mistakes that could have served as reminders of what was wrong so we could do better. We are rapidly becoming anything but “One Nation Under God”. Is it going to take another 9/11 to wake us back up? I pray that God will have mercy on us all.
I still love my country! I will continue to pray that God will continue to Bless America. I will continue to pray we really can be “One Nation Under God”. I will continue to remember.
I DIDN’T GIVE UP! 