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I'm not going to attempt to write a touching tribute to the men and women we lost, and all the families that were affected on 9/11. I could never do it justice. So I'll leave that to the professionals.
I just want to acknowledge our heroes lost, and offer my condolences to their loved ones.
I will forever remember where I was, and the feelings I had that entire, awful day. From the time I first got the news of what happened, to watching the Towers fall, to being glued to the television for literally two days straight.
Everyone has their own account of that day. This is mine.
I was in my junior year at the University of Colorado. It was a Tuesday morning, so my teammates and I were dragging ourselves out of bed for an early morning court workout at Carlson Gym.
On the court, ready to go at 6:45 Mountain time. Ironically, one minute before the first plane crashed into the North Tower at 8:46 EDT. By the time our one hour workout had ended, all hell had broken loose on the East coast, and my teammates and I were oblivious to it all.
I had an 8am class, so I was in a rush (as always) to get there on time. This day, I made it with several minutes to spare. As I sat waiting for class to start, I kept over-hearing classmates talk about a plane crashing, and/or a bomb going off at the World Trade Center.
The more I heard people talking, the more clueless I felt. I had no idea what had happened, or what they were talking about. Finally, I asked someone sitting near me. He said, 'a plane flew into the World Trade Center.'
Immediately, my heart sank and my mind started racing. What in the world was going on?!?!?
Like many others, my classes were cancelled for the remainder of the day.
Before sending us home, my Biology professor broke down into tears in the lecture hall because he had so many friends and family members back East. The majority of my friends and family were in Oregon, so I felt extremely lucky. I know a lot of us couldn't say the same.
I went back home with a friend, and watched the news for the rest of the day. It was a surreal feeling. Something I thought only happened in movies.
I can't even imagine the memories of those who were in the city that day, or who had friends and family in the area. By comparison, my story of someone who was thousands of miles away with no direct ties to the city, seems pretty insignificant.
Never the less, as people, and as Americans, we all felt the same horrific feelings.
We know our country changed forever that Tuesday. The impact is still being felt politically, economically, and socially. But that is not the point of remembering September 11th. This day should be about remembering and honoring the people we lost.
Every year when September 11th rolls around on the calendar, we all go back to that day, and in our hearts we remember.
It'll never be forgotten, and it never should be.
