Shadow Pioneer

I know I haven’t blogged in a long time, for this I’m sorry to both of you that read my posts =P

Today is one of those historic days, when everyone you know will eventually ask the question “Where were you when the towers fell”  just like people ask “Where were you when Kennedy was shot”.  It’s a sad bringing together of Americans, and some non-Americans alike.  Almost everyone I know was affected by September 11th, 2001 in some way.  Almost everyone I know, remembers where they were, and what they were doing when they heard.  Myself? I was asleep when I was awoken by a phone call saying I have to turn on the TV “RIGHT NOW”.

I was working nights at the time, and remember thinking, as I sat watching the news, that this must be a dream.  I remember going back to bed after the second tower fell, and waking up, thinking “that was the strangest dream I’ve ever had”.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dream at all.  It was an event that changed America forever.  It wasn’t the first time we’ve been attacked by terrorists, and in fact, it’s not the first time we’ve been attacked by terrorists on our own soil.  It was however, the first time that most of America realized that we are NOT immune to this kind of thing.  It’s a sad realization.

It was today, 8 years ago, that nearly 3,000 people from 90 countries lost their lives.  Take a moment to let that sink in… 3 THOUSAND people… NINETY countries… This wasn’t just an attack on America, though, we were without a doubt the target of the attack.  And, it was also not just New York.  It was also Virginia at the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania near Shanksville.  This was not just two towers falling in NYC, this was people losing their lives, for doing nothing more than getting up and going to work that morning, or hopping on a plane to see loved ones, or just be walking down the street.

There was also those heroes.  Those that willing ran into a burning, collapsing building, that others might be saved.  There are those that dragged people from the carnage that was that once peaceful day.  It’s hard to believe, looking back, that before those planes crashed, September 11th 2001 was just like any other day.  It was nothing special until some scumbags decided to turn it into a day of terror, a day that will live in infamy forever.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of 9/11 and their families.  Not only today, but everyday.  This is not some holiday to be thought about once a year, but, a reminder of what we should remember EVERYDAY.  Let this day, as other days of consequence that have gone before today be remembered forever.  Let our flags that mean so much to us, fly free.  And, let us never forget what it means to be free, and what it has cost us for that freedom.  God Bless America!