Never Forget

Where were you on September 11th?  Nine years ago, I was working for a private investigator in a box-like office with no windows when I heard the news break in on the AM station I was listening to.  A plane had hit the World Trade Center.  I called in my co-worker to listen to what was going on.  "Terrorists" we both agreed as we hear the frantic voice of the news anchor describing as a second plane hits the second tower.  And life changed for America.

While the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were tragic to say the least, there was something that happened in the aftermath that was truly inspiring for me.  People united.  People stood on street corners and along roadways with signs saying "God Bless America" waving their flags and people drove by and honked their approval.  People stayed close to their families.  People gave blood.  People prayed together in churches they had never attended before.  Politics were forgotten.  There were no liberals or conservatives only Americans pulling together- one nation united.

My father, a Baltimore County Fire Fighter, along with some of his brothers in the department, traveled to NYC to help in any way they could.  What the fire departments in New York needed help with was providing an honor guard for the funerals of their fallen comrades.  The fire fighters who were left were still helping to search the rubble, were healing their wounds or simply mourning their massive loses.  So my dad along with fire fighters from across the country converged to pay tribute to the heroes that gave their lives trying save others. 

When the funerals were over and the guys from Baltimore were walking the streets of New York, strangers came up to them and hugged them.  They thanked them for coming to help.  For being there to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  At Carnegie Deli, some other customer paid for their meals.  And at the end of the day, the President of Amtrak insured they could return home swiftly by having a private car added to the train just for them. 

We all remember it.

Or do we? 

While we take a moment to remember those who perished on 9/11, perhaps we should remember the feelings of 9/12.

Remember what it felt like driving by those regular folks waving flags on the side of  city or country road and feeling a swelling sense of pride to be American.  Remember what it felt like to what to do something, anything to help.  Remember what it felt like to see politicians work together for the greater good of the people and not their own party's agenda. 

I'll step down off the soapbox now and leave you with these photos from a recent visit to Ground Zero. 

Thank you to all the men and women in the Armed Forces, Police Departments and Fire Departments

who put their lives in harm's way for the sake of others.