Patriot Day

Image via Wikipedia

A dear, young friend of mine (Tristan :) said it best this morning,..."Today still brings tears in my eyes, a knot in my throat, and shivers down my spine."   Very few dates on the calendar stirs so much emotion in me, and many others I'm sure. 

I am watching right now on msnbc "9/11 As it happened" which is coverage of the events on 9-11-01 as they aired that day.  The beginning of the broadcast of course begins at the WTC in NYC with smoke billowing from one towerafter 8:42 am, being referred to as "this accident".  I couldn't help but be shocked 9 years later at the innocence of that remark by Katie Couric on the Today show.  How could she have ever known the magnitude of the first plane's "accident"?  That moment was the end of our national innocence when the 2nd plane hit the 2nd tower, then nationwide air travel stopped, then the Pentagon was hit, then the jumpers off the WTC, then the crash in Pennsylvania.  And on and on and on...

Image by Daves Portfolio via Flickr

Today we took the girls to our local airport's annual air show.  I was touched and encouraged that the annoucer kept saying "On the Sept. 11th...in honor of our nation...remember our fallen heroes...we are PROUD to be Americans."  Several military jets flew overhead, manuveruring in the sky, showing us firsthand the power of our military.

My school/workplace (also my daughters' school) just happens to be right next door to the airport.  Yesterday the jets & planes practiced loud and strong over head, often flying a little too close for my comfort.  Yesterday I wondered why on earth would they do this on 9/11??  I still felt that fear of an airplane and the horrors it was capable of in the wrong hands. 

But today watching those planes and jets, hearing our national anthem, rounds of applause
and cheers for veterans and active members of our military...I understood why they chose today.  What better day to celebrate the resiliency of our nation, the hope we have for our children, the pride we have in our country.  I'm proud to fly my flag today (and every day).  I'm proud to live in freedom.  I'm forever grateful to the men and women who laid their lives down for you and for me to be here today.  God bless the USA.