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Today
is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. It is more than just
images, it is emotion, pain, sadness, grief, and loss.
Today
is the 15th anniversary of 9/11. I can't remember this day without
tears. I know exactly where I was when I first heard the news....I was
driving on the 55 freeway in Orange County, California, exiting at 4th
Street on my way to work. It was early in the morning and still pretty
dark out. I randomly turned the radio on as I exited the freeway,
usually I listened to cds, but for whatever reason, that morning I
turned on the radio to KROQ 106.7. Kevin and Bean were on vacation and
Ralph Garman and Doc were talking, but it wasn't the usual banter. They
said something about about a plane flying into the World Trade Center,
and I remember thinking, "that isn't funny" and just at that moment the
second plane hit. The sound in Ralph's voice let me know they were not
kidding, this was not a joke, I arrived to work at this point and ran up
the stairs, found an old tv with the only 2 co-workers who were there
at work as early as I was, and we turned on the tv and watched in shock
at what the news had on.
I
went home to my parent's house that day. I didn't stay at work. I
remember watching the news, laying on the couch and just being numb to
what was happening.
I remember sleeping in my apartment that night in Tustin, California,
and my roommate and I jumping out of our beds in fear and running from
our rooms into the hallway at the exact same time, after a fighter jet
buzzed over our apartment. They were flying to keep us safe, but in
that moment we both thought it was for other reasons.
So
much changed in America that day. We saw the evil that was against us,
but we also saw the unity, love, and strength of the American people.
We saw brave men and women risk and even lose their lives that day and
the days to follow.
We
saw America do what it does best, UNITE. Gather together and support
each other. Hands were held, hugs were given, prayers were said, and
flags were flown high and proud from every house, apartment and business
across the country.
I
was more proud than ever to be an American as I mourned with my country
over this tragedy, this terrorist attack against our land, our people,
our way of life and our beliefs.
Here
we are today, 2016, fifteen years later....and we are a nation I feel
that has forgotten the unity we shared in that time. It didn't matter
the color of your skin then, what mattered was we were AMERICANS.
So
I mourn again, at the remembrance of that day. At the lives that were
lost. I also mourn for how far our country has fallen since then. I
wonder who we are, and where we are going. I look at the hate and
division and I see that we are not being attacked from the outside, we
are being attacked from within.
My
heart is broken for America. I pray that we as Christians will get on
our knees and pray for our land. That we will repent from our sins,
turn from those things and seek God.
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