Today was Grandparent’s Day at my grandchildren’s school. As I dressed to go spend my day with them, I deliberately chose a red blouse with USA emblazoned in sequins on the front. Why the red blouse? Why wear the sequined “USA” for an elementary school function? Because, today is September 11th. It only seemed appropriate to wear this blouse on this day of all days.
Few of us will ever forget the day that the Twin Towers fell. This was not only a life-altering event for many of us but a nation altering event as well. It shaped the substance of our nation in the days that followed as surely as Pearl Harbor shaped my grandparents’ generation or the death of President Kennedy shaped my parents’ generation. Whether we agree or disagree with the changes that came about as a result of that terrible day is irrelevant. It happened. American blood was spilled. And, it was spilled on American soil – in our backyard – in our neighborhood – in our home. Our peace – our safety – our security was shattered that fateful day. Our hearts and souls have been forever marked and imprinted by its legacy.
That day also brought out the best of what is AMERICA. For a brief moment in time, we were no longer Republican or Democrat – Libertarian or Independent – Southerner or Northerner – Progressive or Conservative. For a shining moment, we were simply the greatness that is AMERICA. Differences in ideology, race and ethnicity were forgotten. They seemed to be somehow so very unimportant in the face of what had happened. We were once again, UNITED as ONE. We were simply AMERICANS.
A friend of mine was there on business when the attack happened and the towers fell. He shared with me some of his story – the fear – the disbelief – the terror – the chaos – the confusion. He shared how they quite literally ran for their lives. I cried as he shared his story with me because it was so moving and profound. My pen cannot do his story justice. Yet, his story was also about hope and courage and kindness and love. It was about coming together and doing what had to be done with one accord. Total strangers took him and others in off the streets – bandaged them – fed them – found cell phones so that they could all employers or their families – cried with them. In the days that followed, with luggage and money lost and planes grounded, strangers took him into their homes and cared for him as dearly as if he were a cherished family member. He was family. They were all AMERICANS.
The sorrow of that day ripped our nation to its core and with one voice we rose up and cried. With one voice – as AMERICANS – together we mourned. Many are mourning still. Many will never stop. None of us will forget.
I wore red today in remembrance of those who lost their lives that day. I wore it for those whose lives were cut short and who will never see their grandchildren. I wore it for the children who will forever have an empty seat by their side on days like today. I wore it for the mothers, the fathers, the brothers, the sisters, the parents, the children, the friends whose loved did not come home that day. I wore red to say “I remember. I will not forget.”
I wore the “USA” to remember and honor the best that is AMERICA. I wore it to proclaim that I am an AMERICAN. My ancestors immigrated to America in 1645. I make no apologies for being proud to be an AMERICAN. To be an AMERICAN has been a privilege.
At the end of the day, we are neither Republican or Democrat, Independent or Libertarian, Northerner or Southerner, or Progressive or Conservative. At the end of the day, regardless of our ideological persuasions, ethnicities, age, or geographic location, we are, and must always remain, simply AMERICANS.
I am an AMERICAN. I remember 9-11. I will not forget those who gave their “last full measure of devotion” that day.
God Bless the USA.
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Tags: 9-11, Fourth of July, Remembering 9-11, September 11, What Makes America Great
“And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘ Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.”
I, too, am an AMERICAN!
I love my country and I love my state. What I loved about that day, if one can say that there is anything at all to be “loved” about that day, is that it brought us all together, if only for a short moment as one nation, undivided and indivisable ready to love and help each other no matter what. It was a horrific and terrifying moment even being far away in my state of Texas!! Everyone will always remember where they were and what they were doing when they heard, when they saw the horrible events of that day. It is also my understading that MeetUp groups started because of 911, that afterwards people realized they did not even know their neighbors and felt alone, wanted to reach out in the community.