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Where I was when the world stopped turning
Published 12:00pm Tuesday, September 11, 2012There’s a generational “Where you when” question that will come up for different significant events in history.
“Where were you when Kennedy was assassinated?”
“Where were you when the Challenger exploded?”
“Where were you the Berlin Wall came down?”
For my generation, the biggest one is where were you on Sept. 11?
I was eleven years old when a couple of planes changed our world forever. Old enough to understand, and yet not quite old enough to understand it all. I was about to watch a movie with my mom when Granny called and told us to turn the news on. Now.
A lot of people have stories from that day. Where they were. What they felt. Because the truth is, even though the Towers were in New York and Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania – two places I have never been and am unlikely to ever go – it affected us all, because it wasn’t about New York or Pennsylvania. It was about America.
We really bonded together as one nation under God that day. It was a terrible time for our country, but I remember the feeling of triumph of a country that was bigger and stronger than any terrorism and couldn’t be held down for long.
I miss that.
What’s happened to patriotism since that day?
What happened to the flag decals, the tears that rolled down faces of pride when the Star Spangled Banner played?
To echo what was a popular country song in 2003 by Darryl Worley, have you forgotten how it felt that day?
Today, I don’t know where there’s a wreath-laying ceremony. I don’t know about any planned moments of silence or memorial programs or salutes to our veterans.
But I hope you haven’t forgotten. I hope you haven’t forgotten “all the loved ones that we’ve lost, and those left to carry on.” I hope you haven’t forgotten that we still have men and women in uniform both here and abroad who are fighting every day to protect this nation – to protect you and your family.
God bless America!
James is a staff writer for The Outlook.
