9/11: How I Remember It

Today was a day of mourning and remembrance for our Country. Seven years was a good while ago, only it seems like a few short years since that fateful day.

I have never written about what I felt that day, or how that day played out before me, so I will do it today.

Seven years ago I was sitting in French class, I was a Junior in High School. We were doing our lesson when the Principle came over the intercom with an announcement. I remember it exactly. He said, "Teachers, turn on your televisions to CNN, I think there is something the students need to see." This still gives me chills when I remember the sound of his voice. To this day I am so grateful that he allowed us to see everything as it was happening, I wouldn't take nothing for that experience.

The class watched in silence as flames shot from the first Tower. Teachers and students who had been in the hall stepped inside classroom doors so they could see. I remember my mouth being dropped in horror and shock. At the time there was no thought of a terrorist attack, but it was thought to have been an accident. I thought to myself, but how can a plane get that low and hit that straight on.

Not long after that, the second plane hit. We knew then, it was no accident. We continued to watch the news with complete disbelief. We tried to make sense of it all. We just couldn't.

The bell rings, classes switch.....there's chatter and commotion all over the halls. The next thing, the Pentagon is hit, evacuations take place at all top government buildings. Then another plane crashes in a field. Later we learn that it was most likely bound for the White House. We wondered when all of this was going to stop. At some point the first Tower collapses. We watch over and over again as papers fly from the crashing building.

Sometime later, our school served lunch. Meanwhile, students were lined up at the pay phones calling their parents out of fear. Many friends were hugging and crying and trying to make since of it all. My friends and I asked, are we safe? What's to come? I was so glad I was Saved. After lunch, I returned to Drivers Ed class only to be sent to the Library as my teacher, a part-time police officer, met with administration, school was dismissing early for the day. I borrowed my teacher's cell phone upon his return and called my mom to come pick me up......I was scared.

My school felt it best that the students went home to be with their families, as they knew parents were worried about their children. I appreciate this about my school, they understood that even though we were thousands of miles away from the attacks, we needed security. My mom pulled up to pick me up, and I just wanted to see her and have her help me make sense out of it all.

When I look back on that day. I think about how I wondered if the world was coming to an end. And I wondered if I would ever see my family again. I went home and video taped the news reports as they were still coming in. I didn't want to forget it, I wanted my children to see it too. As I looked up at the sky that night, I looked out at a still sky, not a single flicker from a plane above......the sky was quiet with only the stars and the moon shining.

I'm very thankful that the Lord saved me and I don't have to be afraid of what is to come. He will keep me safe, or take me Home.


Lord, I pray that we will never, ever forget the power that You have. I pray that we will never forget the way we felt the day that many, many people lost their lives so suddenly. I pray for those still suffering from the loss of their loved ones and those who are physically and mentally suffering as they were there that day. Thank you, Lord, for this great country, and for the men and women who, since September 11, 2001, have served our country because they remember how they felt when it all happened. Thank you for saving me.


Photos courtesy of Foxnews.com

"Not Stopping Here..."

The other day on my way home from making a delivery for work I was stopped by a train moving along the tracks. As my tires rolled to a stop behind others cars waiting I watched as the train and its cargo traveled past. Amongst the many containers being transported were military vehicles. I watched these vehicles past swiftly aboard the train with great interest. I was in awe of the perfectly constructed, almost toy-like vehicles. I wondered, where are these vehicles going? Are they going for training at the neighboring military base, or where they possibly going across the seas? As I neared my home I caught up with the train once again, and thought to myself, those military vehicles, the jeeps, humvee, and armored cars and medical vehicles weren't stopping here.....

Every time I hear a jet fly over me, I look up in amazement, then I think to myself, it's not stopping here. When I hear a gunshot in the air I figure someones hunting or practicing for the next season, but the gunshots aren't stopping here. Why do I not have to be afraid of the sound of jets overhead, or the sound of gunshots......because the explosions, the roadside bombings, the humming of tanks and humvees are not here! Do you realize that there are children in Iraq right now who wake up and go to sleep in fear? Do you realize that there are women who are afraid to travel alone in fear they may not return to their families? The sound of gunfire and explosions and cries are what the people in Iraq and those other countries hear why we in America are listening to our radios and watching our television sets.

You know something....that could be us. We could be the ones who fear silence as much as noise, expecting any minute are homes could be taken over by the enemy. Praise the Lord, however, we have men and women fighting as you sit there at your computer. The war isn't happening here because of those very people. Every single day the soldiers risk their lives so that we can be free! Thanks to those who serve, we don't have to watch where we walk, or be afraid to get into a car or shop at a crowded market.

On the other hand, do you realize that there are children in America* who wake up and go to sleep in fear because Daddy or Mommy may not come home during their next holiday leave? Do you realize that in America* there are terrified women lying in their beds at night with their children pulled tightly to them? These women are lonely and scared without their husbands, their protector and comforter, with them? There are hundreds of women across America* pregnant with children who plead and beg their husbands not to go, don't leave them, even though they know they must. Whether you want to believe it or not there are women, wives and mothers, who go away to fight so we can be safe.

You know, it really doesn't matter if you support this war or not, it doesn't change the facts. We owe a lot more to those who serve our country then a yellow bumper sticker or a plead that President lets them come home. We owe them our prayers and our support. We owe them a "thank you" and kind words. We need to be there for their families too. I challenge all Christians who read this blog:

When you see Hummer going down the road (yes, even the fancy ones that those opposed to the war often drive :/ ) pray for those who drive the military vehicles.

When you hear a gunshot, pray for the soldiers on foot.

When you see a jet fly across the sky, pray for those in the Air Forces.

Then praise the Lord that's it's not stopping here!

We don't support the war because we want to, we do it because we HAVE to! So pray for President Bush every time you hear someone put him down. Pray that God would give him wisdom. President Bush is a Christian, does God not hear his cries too?

Thank you to those who serve this country*! May you have peace in the Lord today! Ya'll are my Heroes!

In Memory of


SSgt. Christopher N. Hamlin
1983-2007

*America has a host of other countries with deployed troops fighting along side our troops. These countries include United Kingdom, Poland, Canada, Australia, and Denmark. Thanks to NEOCounter I can view how many vistors my blog has had from all countries, I know you're reading, so.......let me hear from you! If your country has troops deployed, let me know (I accept anonymous comments ;) )