I still remember September 11, 2001 vividly. I was living in Maryland, just outside of
DC. I was getting ready for work,
watching TV when the first plane hit. After the second plane hit, I ran to my
apartment-mate’s room and knocked on the door and told her she needed to see
what was going on. After a while, I left
for work and listened to the radio.
I was on the DC Beltway, in horrendous traffic (worse than
usual), when the voice on the radio mentioned the plane that hit the Pentagon. I was so angry that they got the Pentagon and
the World Trade Center mixed up. Then I
saw the electronic sign on the highway, “Major incident at the pentagon, expect
delays”. I gasped… what was going on? Then I realized that my apartmentmate’s ( my
friend’s) dad worked at the Pentagon.
I quickly called home, she and I talked about it. She tried frantically to get a hold of her
father, but to no avail. I tried,
desperately, to reassure her, but what could I say? I had nothing of any real value. No one did.
I got to work (I was a youth minister at a church just on
the outskirts of DC). There was
something stoic in everone’s faces. We
were all really confused, discombobulated.
How are we supposed to act?
War? An act of war? Here?
One of the people I worked with, I would later find out, had
a brother who worked as a construction worker at the Pentagon… literally missed
the collision of the plane because they needed to pick up coffee before work… found
out that my roommate’s father was right down the hallway from the collision,
but, because military precision in evacuation- he got out. Later, I would find out that another friend
of mine’s father described the collision as a sudden loss of air-pressure as he
was in yet another part of the building.
And yet another friend, whom I would meet several years later, lost a
sister at the World Trade Center.
I watched the towers fall on a TV in between trying to help
out at the pre-school that was attached to the church while we were trying to
(evacuate/release?) the children to go home… the rumors flew. There was another plane down in DC and 2 more
on the way. We were afraid. We were sure that war had finally visited the
United States… what/who/where were we now?
Then, we heard another plane was down… this time, it was
because some citizens, people just like me, had taken back control of a plane
that was headed for another destination.
These heroes (I do not use this term lightly) took back the plane and
traded their own lives for the lives of many others.
In the aftermath… In
the aftermath… I will never forget the
solidarity I felt with my brethren. We
were Americans. For a brief moment,
there were no political parties.
Americans and Americans stood in the capital and sang “God Bless America”. That’s leadership. That’s who we were in that moment.
That’s who we are.
Name one America who loves the division in this country and
I’ll name you a million more who want peace and cooperation in our leaders-
compromise is not a bad word!
I don’t like shoot-em-up movies anymore. I don’t like horror films. I’ve seen enough of the reality and never
again do I want to see it.
If you really want to remember and honor those who died on
September 11, 2001, please think about the peace and freedom we have enjoyed…
we have enjoyed since. Go beyond thanking a veteran and thanking
those who serve and find a way to serve.
After the April 16, 2007 attacks at VA Tech, the alumni
association issued a challenge in response… Ut Prosim- “that I may serve”. It was called ENGAGE. We are still under that challenge. This challenge echoes that challenge that
George W. Bush gave to all Americans after 9/11.
So, this September 11, please remember and honor those who
lost their lives… celebrate their lives.
Thank those who have and are still protecting our freedom… then go and
serve your brothers and sisters. Fight
the political devices that destroy us… turn off the TV and vote according to
your personal convictions. Love one
another, even when they disagree with your convictions in favor of their
own. Finally, celebrate and live the
life that you have been given.
Be free,
Paul
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