9/11 Seven Years after the attacks

Well it has been almost seven years after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York city. I, as well as others, can still recall where we were at when we heard the fateful news. I was woken up by roommates at the time. I remember being awakened to my roommate Brandon yelling, "Come check out what I just saw on the TV." I quickly threw on some clothes and scampered out into the living room just in time to see the second plane hit on live television.

I remember sitting on the couch in utter amazement at what I was witnessing. I knew at that very moment that I was seeing something that would go down in history, that moment, on September 11, 2001, changed the way American's felt. I remember thinking about my grandfather and how he was stationed at Pearl Harbor and the similarities involved. I couldn't help but feel patriotic and remorseful and utterly crushed by the mass murders being broad casted live on TV.

And here we are, seven years later. I still get shivers when I drive down the road and see FDNY stickers and "9/11 We Will Never Forget" stickers and honestly, who could ever forget? My generation bore witness to one of the most horrific and deadly attacks on US soil. Although we have still not captured Bin Laden, and are still involved in a war that the majority of this country does not wanna be involved with. We haven't lost site of what truly matters.

What matters to me, and I think what should matter to most everybody, is the human compassion and selflessness that followed immediately after the attacks. The men and women from the FDNY, FDNY Paramedics, The New York City Police Department, The Port Authority Police Department as well as one K9 officer and Private EMS and EMT's all gave their lives that day to save someone elses. A total of 411 emergency workers died that day for doing nothing more then their jobs.

I have a very good friend who is a firefighter. He LOVES to fight fires, its what he does. But he also likes helping people. These people that do these jobs are selfless and caring. They put themselves aside in stressful and dangerous times to help others in the same situation. For myself, and many others, their really isn't much good in reflecting on the 9/11 attacks. Most people think about the negatives, the deaths, the attacks, the destruction. But if you focus, away from what the media tells us, and really see what happened that day, you will know it was almost like angels sacrificing themselves for the goodness of mankind.

So when September 11th 2008 rolls around. I hope for a moment you will not focus on the mundane. I hope for one moment you realize just how remarkable these people who put their lives on the line really are. Maybe you will get pulled over for speeding and just tell the officer you appreciate what they do, for no other reason then to let that officer know their is still respect and caring left in us Americans.

Let us not forget our patriotism, let us put the flag out on the front porch, for if nothing else, then to just remember that when this country falls, no matter how hard. There will always be someone to pick you back up, someone who will risk their life to save yours. For if a tragedy ever happens again on our home soil, you will know this to be true and you will be thankful for who they are. So on September 11th 2008, I would hope you will all give thanks to the men and women who keep this country safe in times of need.