Never Forget

I was in 6th grade in a home economics class when the very foundation of America was being tested and shaken but not broken. September 11th, 2001 was a day that forever changed America. I will never forget the fear and the feeling of loss that swept over the nation with the news of the "apparent terrorist attacks" that have since become so ingrained into the lives and minds of every American.

I have lived more days remembering the sacrifices of many, the strength of this great nation and living under the threat of terrorism than before. Being only 11 years old on September 11th, 2001, the New York skyline has stood empty of the Twin Towers for the majority of my lifetime. Everything changed that day, not just for the victims or the fallen heroes of the day but for everyone who saw those images of the burning towers and who felt the impact and the aftermath of the attack. Everyone was affected by the terror that was created from the images passing around the country; images that will forever be ingrained in the minds and hearts of Americans.

This past week, there have been countless images, posts and specials on the September 11th attacks on this country. I tend to view myself as an informed, interested and active member of society in the way that I find it my duty as a citizen to do my research and have as much information in my grasp in order to make informed opinions about the world around me. I take pride in the fact that I am an International Relations and Diplomacy major (as well as having a degree in French) and stay on top of both domestic and international news.

That being said,I had never seen an image of the plane flying into the South Tower. I have no idea how I had never seen that image before but, it completely caught me off guard. I was overwhelmed with emotion upon seeing that horrific image knowing all of the destruction that came next. I don't know how it came to be that I had never actually seen with my own eyes the cause to so much destruction, both physical and emotional, to the heart of this great nation. While I will never forget that day that changed so much, I will also never forget how I felt upon seeing this simple image of an airplane cutting through history and how it made me feel proud of the greatness that was shown in the days, months and years to come afterwards.

This plane, hijacked and the cause of so much damage, isn't the one that need be remembered. Flight 93, the plane that did the least amount of damage, should be the symbol of 9/11. The passengers and crew of that aircraft fought so hard in order to take back control of both the plane but also of the country. Their bravery in bringing down that flight and their personal sacrifice shows the resilience of the United States of America and how the American people is a people who are not to be taken lightly.

Today I am reminded of how many sacrifices have been made in order to sustain such a freedom as this; however imperfect it is. While this land of liberty still has a long way to go to attain perfection in regards to equality, there are definite strides that have been made towards a free, fair, and just America. While I never got the chance to see the World Trade Center in person, the images of those towers will be forever etched into my heart.