I know I'm a few days late on this post, but as I was laying in bed next to my daughter I couldn't stop thinking of that horrible day 8 years and 5 days ago.
My family didn't have cable at that time, but I did listen to the radio every morning as I got ready. I turned it on and expected to hear music but all I heard was someone talking about places that were unfamiliar to me. Before then I hadn't really heard of the World Trade Centers or the Pentagon. I left my room and stood with my family as we all listened to the radio. I can remember my mom turning to my dad and ominously saying "This is huge, Mark."
I remember being in seminary and discussing with all the other students the events that were taking place. Who had done this to our country? Why would they want to hurt us? How long had they had this planned? There were rumors of other planes still flying around that hadn't struck yet. I remember that rumor specifically because I had written it down in my seminary journal. I was just waiting to be attacked again.
After I left seminary, I headed to Mr. Fields room for Government class. I begged him to please let me go to the library and watch the news. I still had not seen for myself the tragedy that was transpiring. A couple others begged as well, and our class headed for the one television in the school. We were all silent as we gathered around the TV and watched the footage of the planes crashing over and over again.
I don't really remember the rest of the day, but I do know it involved being angry at my principal. He wouldn't lower the flag to half-mast, and he refused to cancel the event that was going to happen at the school that night. It was Parent's Night. I think it was called something else, but that's basically what it was. The parents came to the school and talked with the teachers and looked at stuff that we had been doing. Just like in elementary school, but for high school.
My friend Lydia and I had agreed to sing the National Anthem for this event two weeks prior.
How could I possibly sing the National Anthem on a day like this? I prayed for the event to be canceled. I really did. I didn't think there was any possible way that I could sing that song without breaking down and sobbing.
Lydia and I practiced, prayed for strength, walked into the gym, and faced our Nation's flag to sing our song. Everyone there was completely silent as we sang, and we sang it beautifully. When we were done some were clapping, some where crying, and I knew that I would never forget singing our National Anthem on one of the most horrible days in history.
Now it's been eight years. I can't help but thinking of the state of our country then, and what it is now. Everyone was so unified, so caring for one another, everyone had pride in our country. There was an awesome feeling of undividedness for we were all mourning the same thing.
Now it's completely opposite. Everyone is angry at something. The economy, the government, the president, issue after issue. It seems like the only thing we can all agree on is the Kanye West is a jack a**.
So whatever it is that you're angry about, forget it. Remember how incredibly BLESSED we are to live here. We live in the United States of America.
The greatest Nation on earth.
A free land.
A PROMISED land.
I have an issue.
Posts
