9/11...8 years later

September 11, 2001. It still seems fresh in my mind. It has become one of those days that falls under the label: "I remember where I was when that happened." JFK's assassination and man going to moon were two events that our parent's generation often site under that label. Our grandparents can recall the start of the Great Depression and end of World War II as major events that shaped their younger years. For me and my generation, the events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 are what has come to shape our generation and has stood out the transcendent event our time. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was starting my freshmen year in high school and the day started and seemed like an ordinary Tuesday in early September. I was in third period gym. I had just exited the locker room and was sitting in my assigned spot about to start that day's gym class. Then out of no where my gym teacher, Mr. Altar, told the class of roughly 35 students that he had just received word that a plane had been flown into one of the Twin Towers. However, at this point a second plane had been flown into the other tower and the Pentagon had been hit as well as a plane being stalled and prevented from heading to D.C. somewhere in Pennsylvania. We were brought into the nearest cafeteria and were watching developments on television and received notices from our Principal, Mr. Cannici. Everyone, including myself, was in shock and was not sure what to make of this.

The last time that anything of this magnitude occurred was most likely the Pearl Harbor attacks on December 7, 1941. Not to downplay that or steal a line from FDR, but 9/11 has become an infamous day in our history. Growing up, I remember looking at and reading the history books. When I was young, a lot of the history stopped at the Persian Gulf War. By the time I entered high school, events of the 1990s were slowly working their way into those same books. Now, middle and high schoolers are reading about events that occurred when they were too young to remember them ever occurring. It almost seems surreal that I have lived long enough that events as enormous as this one have not only occurred in my lifetime, but it has been eight years since that day.

That day has inspired the United States as a country to want to prevent this ever from happening again. I believe that we have taken steps as a country each year ensuring that we are safer. We have taken diplomatic steps in order to safeguard enemies from wanting to move forward with such actions. Officials and positions are now in place. More and more intelligence work has been done and currently we have some of the most qualified individuals working in the Defense Department and other agencies along with President Obama to promote unity and non-proliferation. A world without nuclear weapons; will be a world where terrorism is stifled. Polls and analysis is done every year and each year it seems that Americans are moving as much forward, as you can, and feel that we are taking the right measures to ensure the safety of all Americans.

As much as terrorism and American safety is highlighted at this time every year, how about we put the attention where it truly belongs: to the families of the men and women who perished that day and the heroes who gave their lives trying to safe many of them. Stand up and salute those of the New York City Police and Fire Departments as well as all emergency services that acted fast and efficiently as possible. Thank all those who went to New York City and Washington DC to assist with the recovery. Give a thank you to the memory of those brave individuals who knew they were dying and saved many more lives by their bravery over that Pennsylvania field. Find the time to pause in memory at the moments that shaped that day and changed our future. Give the day its proper respect. Do not politicize a day that should have never happened and luckily has not happened again and God willing not happen again.

It has been eight years since that fateful day and for everyone who has that day's events still in their minds, lest we not forget. I will not forget the way that the country rallied as one because it was not just New York City, Washington DC, and Skanksville, Pennsylvania that were affected by the attacks, but America as a whole. The one thing that I would like to see moving forward is the country finding a way to not only come together once a year to remember those lost that morning, but for the country to strive to act as one every day. I think that terrorism began to overshadow and overtake the real purpose that should have come out of that day and the following days. That real purpose being when America comes together we can achieve great things and be there for each other. Keep that perspective in mind on the back burner while truly respecting the meaning of today. As long as I live and each year that September 11 comes up on the calendar, I will take myself back to that day and remember all whom were lost and honor their memory as we all should.