Remembering 9/11

September 11 2001 is one of those days that will forever seem like yesterday no matter how much time goes by. It also helps me remember what our country is fighting for. There are many people who lost friends and family, but for me 9-11 is a day that helps me remember that God is truly watching over me and my family.

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My birthday is September 12th and in 2001 there was only one thing I wanted for my birthday. To go to New York. Even as a young girl I was always drawn to the city. The lights, the fashion, the theatre! That’s what I wanted when I was 14 for my birthday…to explore the city, go see a Broadway show and see my uncle who lived in the city.

And so my parents booked our trip. I still have a copy of our itinerary. DTW to NYC on September 10th, 2001. Flight leaving at 8:10pm. We were going to fly in that night, I was going to get up in the morning and surprise my uncle at his office. His office on one of the top floors of the World Trade Center.

The morning of the 11th came and I was furious at my parents. They had an work event in Ohio they couldn’t get out of and at 14 I thought my birthday was ruined. I wasn’t going to New York, I wasn’t going to see my uncle and my parents were going to be gone for my birthday. I left for school on the morning of the 11th so incredibly angry. When you are 14 it is so easy to tell your parents you hate them without thinking or feeling. Oh the things I wish I could take back.

I was late to class, when I walked in everyone was silent and the television was on. I can’t describe the feeling when I saw that plane crash into the building…when that plane crashed into my uncles office. All I remember is hitting the floor. I awoke to my teacher hovering over me and I screamed! “That’s my uncle!” My teacher let me call my mom from his classroom. No answer. I ran to the office. I managed to stammer out that I needed to go home and call my parents because the attack was on my uncles office.

I finally got a hold of my mom. My family was already in panic. They couldn’t contact my uncle and all we could do was sit and watch his building crumble to the ground. My stepfather started driving to the city to attempt to find him.

God was watching over my family that day in so many ways. He saved my life my ruining my birthday. He saved my parents by giving them a work meeting to go to. 9/11 and my birthday every year are a constant reminder of how grateful I am to turn another year older because I wasn’t suppose to.

My uncle just so happened to wake up late that morning. He got off the subway as the plane hit. He lost all his co-workers besides a secretary.

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To the victims of 9/11: You will always be remembered!
To the service men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country: You will always be remembered!
To the US Armed Forces who keep our borders safe: You will always be remembered!
To all you terrorist out there: we haven't forgotten!

God Bless the U.S.A and thank you for watching over me.