Originally posted at MBT Ponderers
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| 9/11/01 Never forget. |
My mom can remember the details of where she was when President Kennedy was assassinated. I remember being in 7th period study hall during my junior year when we heard about the space shuttle Columbia tragedy.
On September 11, 2001, we were giddy with excitement–okay, can’t say I’ve ever seen Hubby giddy with excitement–to board the shuttle bus from our resort at Walt Disney World to take us into Magic Kingdom. We spent a couple of hours getting wet on Splash Mountain, going on the Jungle Cruise, and seeing the Country Bears. Suddenly, attractions were closing, and people were being herded (best term for it) to the main entrance. Rumors were being repeated, almost like a game of Telephone. Snippets of Twin Cities, or was it Twin Towers, planes, bombings spread through the massive numbers of people. We returned to our resorts and were told we could not leave them. Once we got into our room, we turned on the TV and cried as we watched the travesty being brought against our nation.
Hubby, who is a former Marine, was stationed in Quantico, VA for three years. He spent a lot of time in D.C. and knew exactly where those planes had hit. Our families panicked when they couldn’t get ahold of us by phone because they had heard the major US resort areas were going to be hit too. When I talked to my sister, we cried together.
Heroes died that day. Unsung heroes who were nameless faces in the crowds. Heroes who battled flames, treated the wounded, and prayed over the desperate. Heroes who sacrificed their lives so others could live. Heroes who became Jesus in the flesh.
Our country changed that day. Prayer for the brokenhearted drew people closer together and closer to God. We can’t afford to forget September 11, 2001, because we can’t afford to take our days for granted. God gives us a precious gift called the present. We need to make the most of every day and make sure our loved ones know how much they mean to us because we don’t know what tomorrow brings.
I’m so thankful I live in a nation that honors freedom of worship. I’m so thankful for the service men and women who fight at home and abroad for our nation’s freedoms. I’m so thankful for their families who support them when they can’t be together. I’m so thankful for the everyday heroes who put their lives on the line to save others. I’m so thankful for those medical heroes who work tirelessly to minister to the sick and wounded. I’m so thankful for those heroes that go unnoticed like our educators.
Let us join together as One Nation Under God and never forget.
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Where were you when you heard the news? How has this tragedy strengthened your faith?
What a beautiful post, and a powerful reminder of the everyday heroes who live and die to protect the freedom of our nation.
When I first heard the news about 9/11, I didn't believe it. It was my first year at a Bible college where we had no TVs or radios. When we were finally able to access the news videos online, we were shocked of course, but it still felt unreal. Being so isolated from the media, we were sort of detached from it all.
It wasn't until I visited Ground Zero several years later that I was able to truly understand the significance and influence of the attacks on our country. At the same time, it was encouraging to see how people had banded together and supported one another.
To me, it's a perfect example of how God can use evil for good, drawing people together, reminding us how short life is, and to be thankful for all that He's given us. Our God is truly an awesome God.