September 11, 2001: Ten Years Later

Ten years ago, the United States of America had the worst attack on its soil since Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Since then, the country has moved forward while many of her people continue to remember while few seem to have forgotten.

I remember that September 11, 2001 started out as every ordinary day starts out. I was in sixth grade and only twelve years old. I got up and got ready for school while the sun was shining and I was listening to U93 on the radio. I remember that the announcer said that a plane had crashed into a building. Well, with how young I was, and just like everybody else in the country, I thought that it was an accident. I thought that it was one of those single-engine planes (like a crop-duster) that had crashed into a single-story (or a two-story) building at least. I went to school with Sarah (who was ten at the time) and it was an ordinary day. School was in session; History, Math, Science, and all other courses were being completed; lunch was normal; and so was recess.

Getting home, I vaguely remember mom sitting down, dad must have been standing, and I believe I sat down on the edge of the couch or chair and just watched as one of the towers (probably Tower 1) come down. I think that we just sat there, and sat there, and sat there. When Bush came on that night, we all sat around the TV to watch him make his speech. I will never forget that day.

Friday, I watched Nightly News with Brian Williams. During it, there was a video about all of the states (at least the Continental U.S.) getting a piece of the Twin Towers. On Saturday, I watched the United Flight 93 Memorial. Today, I woke up to the last half of Miracle of Stairway B on the History Channel. I continued to watch the channel all day. The only time I didn't was when mom, dad, and I went to see them bring in our piece of the Towers (although the piece is being set in Elkhart). After that, we came home, and I turned on the TV to continue watching the History Channel until the very last episode.

While waiting to see the piece of a Tower, I told mom and dad that even though I am only twenty-two, I have been able to see history being made in my life. And I told them that I saw the attacks (though not personally) occur, heard that Osama bin Laden had been killed, and that a piece of a Tower was making its way past us. Dad said that I saw two leaders get killed and I was like, "Who?" He said bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. I was like, "Ohh." I had forgotten that Hussein was killed. I think that I will see more history regarding terrorism being made before I die.

9/11: Never Forget