It was 10 years ago today. It’s hard to imagine it’s been that long when it seems not too long ago.

It was just a normal day at Ashland Middle School. I was 14 years old, sitting in Mrs. Ferguson’s class in the 7th grade waiting with the other kids for her to come in – she was late. I sat by the window panes and remember looking out the window in the morning. It was a clear blue sky.

She finally came in, but she looked troubled, as if she was recovering from crying. She explained why she came in late. She said she was very concerned for Mrs. Arnolds husband who was working close to (or perhaps inside) the World Trade Centers in New York City. She hoped he was ok. I didn’t understand why she was crying and didn’t think too much of it at the time. Class resumed as “normal”.

Getting into my history class I believe instead of having class we watched the news. This was not of the ordinary and I saw smoke spewing from two tall towers.

At the end of the day I was all prepared to walk home. Instead I believe I remember my dads work van parked outside the school (which was extremely rare because he had a busy schedule at the time), waiting to pick me up. He told me he wasn’t going to let me walk home.

After he brought me home mom was watching the news in the middle of the day. She told me what had happened. I saw reruns of a plane hitting a tower and seeing people running frantically for their lives. It seemed like a movie, but the live unedited footage made it all feel too real. It was at this point I finally realized that my country was attacked by terrorists. I had never witnessed any live footage like this before and it was becoming more and more real to me.

This was the first time I had witnessed seeing live footage of any “War on America”, which happens very seldom as it is (and we are fortunate this is the situation). I cannot imagine seeing a family member or friend one day and realizing they would not be around anymore the next – “in the blink of an eye”, as some victims families describe it. My greatest sympathies to those who lost their life without a chance for a prayer or a phone call home.

I am in great debt to those who were not only the first to respond but those who helped organize the chaos and helped who was around to safety. I am also truly grateful for those who are currently serving in the military and are helping to prevent future attacks on America, such as the devastating images I saw on September 11, 2001.

Some media to share:

Obama, Bloomberg speak at ground zero on 9/11 tenth anniversary