We will never forget.

The words 'We will never forget' are not just a phrase but a truth.

There are certain moments in human history that are always remembered.

My grandparents have never forgotten where they were when Pearl Harbor was bombed or when the Hindenburg crashed.  My grandmother has told me in detail her feelings the moment she heard and where she was on Sunday, December 7th, 1941.  The country was filled with horror knowing that we were brutally attacked as people went to church or simply slept.

My grandparents and some family members remember where they were the moment President Kennedy was shot.  Regardless of political affiliation those who were alive then remember where they were and how they felt when the young handsome President, who was a symbol of our great nation was cut down in his prime.

My parents remember where they were when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.  The moon that we can see on a nightly basis and seems so familiar, but is also a world away.

For me, I will always remember September 11, 2001.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was a college freshman.  I had been away from home for three to four weeks as I was an athlete and had to get to school early.  I had really settled into my new surroundings and home.  It was a Tuesday, which meant I could sleep late as I didn't have class until the afternoon.  Around 8 am central time my room phone started ringing.  It was in arms reach of me but I decided not to answer it as I was tired (and lazy).  A moment after it stopped ringing it started ringing again, so I decided I better stop ignoring it and answer - it was my mom.  My mother watched the Today Show every single morning for as long as I could remember, she was calling me to tell me to turn it on.  I told her I was too tired and I would call her back, but she told me it was far to important not to watch live.  I begrudging rolled out of bed and turned on my TV, the sight I saw was so unbelievable.  One airplane had struck the Twin Towers, but they weren't sure what exactly happened.  They thought maybe it was an accident, they were showing it live but like everyone watching they were aghast.  Not long after I turned on the TV the second plane hit.  My mom and I were still on the phone and full of horror as we knew that no accident had happened, it was deliberate and it was terror.  We cried and prayed together and I will always remember watching as plane after plane crashed and the whole world held their breath and was full of terror at what was happening to our world.

Later that day I went to cross country practice and found out that a new, but very close friend had been affected by this in a more personal way, I felt helpless for her and her family and so very, very sad.  Our coaches were scrambling to find a new place for us to run as we were scheduled to run on the grounds of a near by arsenal that day and for a meet on Saturday.  We never were able to run there again as it soon closed itself off to the public as no one knew what would happen next.

Those are my memories from Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  It was a day full of horror for the whole nation but even more so for the ones who were affected personally.  My heart and prayers go out to them today and always.

We will never forget.

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