Remembering: September 11, 2001

A day late, but I am posting anyway.  I think it's so important to never forget that awful day.

I originally posted this last year, on the tenth anniversary of September 11th.
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It's one of those days that none of us who were old enough to remember will ever forget. It's a day that will be forever scarred in our memory.

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On September 11th, 2001, I was 24 and I was on the other side of the state in meetings at an elementary school we were remodeling. I remember the principal of the school coming into the conference room and telling us what was happening, but I remember her seeming somewhat nonchalant about the whole thing. There wasn't a TV in the room so I wasn't able to see any of the coverage. I remember being upset about having to continue the meetings - I wanted to know what was going on.

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That night I was staying in a hotel. I had a friend who lives somewhat close to where I was staying, and thankfully he came to stay with me. That is a night I would not have wanted to be alone.

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What I remember most about the days and weeks following that awful day is the way our country came together. It didn't matter if you were a Republican or Democrat - we all stood together for our country. We were all in it together.

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On the one year anniversary, I again had to travel to the other side of the state for work. I was listening to the radio who was broadcasting a special on the anniversary. At 8:46 AM, the moment that the first plane hit, I passed a man on the expressway who had pulled over and was standing along side the road waving a huge American flag. It's something I will never forget. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it.

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I took all these photos yesterday at a memorial called the "West Michigan Healing Field". There is a flag representing every person who lost their life that day - 3200 flags.

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Each flag has a tag with a name and information about those who died. There are flags without tags, representing those who have not yet been identified.

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Reading the names attached to the flags was a moving experience.

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Each flag is available for sale, with the proceeds benefiting first responder charities. If you are interested in purchasing a flag, or to learn more about the healing field, click here.

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I hope we never forget September 11th, or the patriotism that we felt afterwards.

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"A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.
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America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

. Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could."
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- President George W. Bush; Address to the Nation, September 11, 2001