Where were you when the world stopped turning? The 10th anniversary of 9-11

It’s hard to believe that this year marks the ten year anniversary of September 11th…that dreaded day in history that changed life as we knew it. I do not think there are any perfect words to properly express the range of events and emotions that occurred that day. I have one of the worst memories (mom brain) in the world; I can rarely tell you what I had for breakfast a few hours after I ate it, and some days I leave the house trying to remember if I even brushed my teeth and put on deodorant. But I can say that I DO remember where I was and what I was doing 10 years ago on September 11th when that first plane hit that first tower; and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Me on September 11, 2001
I was at Basic Training for the Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I was sick with a fever the night before and had been taken to sick call and admitted to the hospital. That morning, after returning from my health check (to determine if I would be discharged or stay another night), I passed by the front desk, as several people were standing around and saw the airplane hit the Twin Towers. We were not suppose to watch TV or have any media connections while at basic training, and were quickly sent back to our rooms. In the elevator on my way back, several people were asking, “did you hear?”, “did you see?”, I had saw, but I had no idea what was going on. My first thought was computer system failure or pilot falls asleep, TERRORISM was the last thing that came to my mind. But I knew SOMETHING BIG had happened by the reactions of those around me. I took to a paper and pen and wrote a letter home. I distinctly remember my first words being, “WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE??” I was terrified and confused! It wasn’t until a couple days later when I returned to my platoon that I got the full scoop as to what had occurred. Our Drill Sergeants’ brought in some news footage to show us, I attended church where our leaders talked with us about the events, my mom snuck some news articles to me in the mail, and I received word that my brother’s reserve unit was on standby for clean-up deployment, and I was able to call home. I was given a new perspective on life, and the choices I had made, most specifically the choice to join the military. I won’t lie….I was scared!! I think the event gave all of us recruits a new perspective on our choice to serve in the military. Many in my platoon had signed on as linguists, and were then assigned the language of Arabic (big surprise). But there was quite a bit of pride felt at the completion of our final training march before graduation, as we all stood in formation at attention listening to Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA and staring at Our Nation’s Flag waving in the breeze!

As we commemorate the 10year anniversary of this life changing event, I encourage you to take a moment and contemplate that day ten years ago, and the changes that event has brought to our lives. How grateful I am to be a part of this great nation, for UNITED WE STAND! We have fought back, we have overcome, and hopefully we have been made stronger through it all. NEVER FORGET!

So, where were you when the world stopped turning?

Also posted on FrederickMommies Blog