They say you’ll never forget where you were when something especially tragic happens, and that sentiment is true of my experience on September 11, 2001. I was in my 8th grade Civics class with Mrs. Zablotney. I couldn’t tell you what were learning about or who was sitting next to me, but I remember another teacher hurrying through the door and rushing over to my teacher, whispering in her ear, telling her what had just happened. I remember how her face went from smiling to grave as she processed what the other teacher was saying, and then she crossed the room to flick on the TV. After that, the day turned into a blur of kids being pulled out of school by their parents (we were less than 30 miles from the Pentagon), discussions of what would happen next, and in between it all, wondering what the heck a “world trade center” was. None of it made sense.

And then I remember the footage- that one clip they played over and over of a person trapped on an upper floor of one of the Twin Towers, so overcome with fear at the thought of burning alive that they jumped. I remember the juxtaposition of seeing a peaceful, beautiful piece of architecture suddenly ripped apart by an unexpected aircraft barreling into the side of it. I remember being scared for the people of New York, terrified for the people inside that building, and heartbroken for the families left wandering the streets looking for loved ones.

But the United States of America is not one to take things sittings down. And out of something so ugly, so abhorrent, there rose something beautiful- we banded together, leaning on one another, drawing strength from each other. The star spangled banner flew high and proud, we all sang our national anthem a bit louder, and both of my brothers, and countless others, pledged their commitment to the United States military. We became ONE nation again.

Today is a day that we remember our sorrow, but it’s also a day that I remember as the one that lit a fire under our butts, causing us to rise up with one voice and a flag flying high behind us, promising to defend our nation from those who would wish to crush our hopes and dreams. As many issues concerning the state of our country that we may see on FOX news or CNN, I will always look back on post-September 11 America with an enormous sense of pride. This was the time when I learned what it means to be an American.

God bless you all, and don’t forget to thank a police officer, firefighter or member of the military today.

Something beautiful

September 11, 2012

  1. molly says:

    amen, abby. so well put. i know ill never forget where i was <3

  2. Alicia says:

    Beautiful post Abby & so very true. For me that horrible event and those that followed marked the understanding of what “Proud to Be an American” meant. It still gives me chills to think about it.

  3. Shalese says:

    This post gave me goosebumps! What a beautiful way to put such a mix of emotions into words.

  4. Jean says:

    Abby, this brought tears to my eyes. It was such an emotional time and it still is hard for me to think of all the devastation, all the lives lost. Thank you for this tribute to our military, firemen and police officers.

  5. Shauna says:

    We will never forget!

  6. Karen Field says:

    Wow. It was good to hear your remembrances of that day. While you were in school seeing kids pulled from classes, I was at your old elementary school bringing kids to the front office to reunite with their parents. That was a really memorable day. School was off the next day and I remember all 5 of us sitting in front of the tv and being mystified by what was happening. It will be a part of my memory for the rest of my life.

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