In memory of 9/11

[Laties]

The sixth anniversary of 9/11 is today and whenever the this time comes around one could say I get a bit ‘emotional’. Over 2,000 people lost their lives on that day and the number itself never ceases to put me in shock. Yesterday, I went to something called Moms’ of Military in Riverside honoring those who died in 9/11 and soldiers who died since then. There, they have huge poster boards with the pictures of those who died in 9/11 and soldiers who died since then.

This was my second time attending Moms’ of Military and the number of pictures added to those boards from a year ago made me cry. So many pictures were added and several people had to walk away from the boards. Seeing the families who lost their loved ones made me cry even more and I wasn’t the only one who cried. The entire day was pretty emotional but at night when the candlelight ceremony started and the families of those who died stood up in front of everyone and we all found out that a soldier from Riverside had died a few months ago. The most painful part would be that he died without being able to see his six month year old daughter.

A few soldiers from his branch (I’m not entirely sure which branch he was from), folded up the American flag and gave it to his mother who left shortly after that with his wife. A 21 gun salute was presented shortly after that thus ending the Candlelight ceremony and the sixth annual Moms’ of Military.

I’m not sure what people plan on doing today. Most I predict will just live that day as any normal day. Me on the other hand, won’t be doing that. Today, I’ll be dressed in my uniform and go to school early to watch as my unit raises the flag to half mast. During the day, I will be writing letters to those in Iraq, people I don’t even know, telling them how thankful I am for what they’re doing for the country and that they come home safely and sending them. After school, if I can, I’ll be going to a cemetery with a few of my friends and spending an hour or so there.

I have nothing against what anyone thinks about this or the whole Iraq war thing. It’s just that I want to honor those who died and who are fighting to keep us safe. Right now, I have several friends who are in Iraq right now and I want them to come home safely because their families and friends miss them. I want everyone in the armed forces to come home safely to their families.

Here are some various tributes to 9/11 and some things that really touched me:

Journal entry written by my friend:
nailel.deviantart.com/art/We-are-one-56364034

Videos:
www.youtube.com/jp.swf?video_id=LxJiiWo0JbE
youtube.com/watch?v=T-s23KTwvGo

Victims of 9/11:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:911_victims.jpg

[Israfel Deu Ausgard]

Spires of beauty...
Towers into the heavens...
Throbbing heart of the country...

There were many names for the two towers that stood in New York. They were creations of magnificence and they stood for so many things. But now, we know them as something completely different.

Ground Zero

I can honestly say that I had nearly forgotten about it until I found out one of my friends had her class canceled because her teacher believes 9/11 should be a holiday. But, that does not mean that those who died and continue to die for our country were forgotten. I can remember that day...

Jumping onto to the bus, heading out for my Sophomore year of Highschool. I had slipped my headphones in without really looking at my surroundings. It wasn't until I glanced up and saw several girls with their mouths wide open and shocked. I didn't know what their problem was until I took the headphones out of my ears and heard the radio broadcast about it. It was shocking, yes, but it didn't really hit me until I ended up in my second class, English, that my teacher turned on his TV and we watched a brief newscast. However, no images were shown. I was absolutely dying to know what happened. So, the minute I got home and turned on the TV, it was then the true horrors were revealed to me.

But that didn't mean anything to me then. Its not until four to five years later that I cry each time I watch a documentary and pray each time I finish a documentary. If you'll notice, I'm writing this at 1:12 am and above me is my TV showing yet another documentary about 9/11. I just had to write something after reading Laties' post. I couldn't help but cry as several photographers showed off their photos of what once were and what are now the ruined towers.

But the thing is, we can't hate. Its a tough thing, I know. But branding people as terrorists and hating them...It only makes you exactly like them. The only thing we can try to do is understand. We can't even mourn. Those who have passed would not want us to mourn them, but to celebrate our own lives. They would not want us to reside within our own sorrow everyday, but to live it as fully as we can. For just like the victims of 9/11, we have no idea when this day will be our last.

America

Land of freedom...
Land of resilience...
Land of love...

The Twin Towers fell for us, reminding us everyday to hold onto those closest to you and to never give up. The Twin Towers, spires of beauty and towers into heaven...

Victims...

I pray for you.