It seems like every generation has that one question. For our grandparents- where were you when Pearl Harbor was bombed? For our parents- where were you when JFK was shot? And for us, the question seems to be, where were you when the World Trade Center fell? Inevitably, each of us have a strong memory of that September day, despite the fact that for us Collegiettes, ™ it was half a lifetime ago. Â
At my small Midwestern Catholic School, it seemed like nothing more than playground rumors at first. It was something the teachers wouldn’t tell us, but that the older kids knew. When we were finally told about the tragedy that struck our nation, it still didn’t make sense, at least not to me. It was so hard to comprehend people from so far away, hating Americans so much. One of my most distinct memories of that day was my dad showing me where the Middle East was on the map hanging in our family room- strange to think that I didn’t even know the location of a region that would soon demand the focus of our nation for at least the next decade.
And now, after ten years, we are all called to remember not only this specific day, but the events that unraveled as a result of this terrorist attack. First and foremost, it is a day to honor those whose lives were lost on this horrific day, and of course, to also remember their families whose lives were altered more significantly and more tragically than most of us can even imagine. This is a day to think about those who continue to fight for our freedom in our country’s armed services, as this attack spawned a War on Terror. These people are true heroes and deserve our recognition on this day and on every other day.
But if I could ask Americans to remember just one more thing, it would be to remember the patriotic surge and sense of unity that followed this attack. On September 12, 2001, we were still a nation. We made it through the attacks as one, united country. In fact, the days that followed were characterized by people donating blood, waving flags, and doing whatever they could to show that we were still the strongest nation in the world. Â
Now, ten years later, a lot has changed. We have new leaders, new issues, and in fact, the man most responsible for these attacks was tracked down and killed by our military earlier this year. But we are still a nation, still united. I would hope that what will always continue is that sense of patriotism and desire to do good for this unified nation that we all love so much.
Photo sources:
http://lastliberalstand.wordpress.com/2010/09/26/what-was-your-response-…
http://www.pahighlander.com/9-11.htm