I Remember

I remember when I would go to the airport and you could go to the gate and watch your loved ones get on their plane. I loved sitting by the big windows and watching the planes come and go.
I remember when I felt safe and secure in this country....invincible even.
I remember learning about war in 5th grade, thinking I would never experience terror, fear or war.
I remember laughing when adults would say that someday we would probably enter WWIII.
I can't remember what I had for breakfast a week ago...but I remember everything about September 11, 2001.

Ten years ago today I was in 6th grade. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Charleston, SC. I was leaving my 2nd period Spanish class to head to art. I remember seeing teachers whispering to each other. I had never seen adults look so scared and I had never seen them openly displaying that fear to students. I ran to class. The students were whispering and teachers were telling us to sit down and to please be quiet. So we waited and wondered if we were going to be alright.

Suddenly Mrs. Jones, from across the hall, ran into the room to talk to my teacher Mrs. Kidd. Mrs. Jones 5 year old grandson was in kindergarten in lower Manhattan. His dad worked in the North tower. He couldn't reach either of his parents so he called his grandma crying. While on the phone with him, they got cut off. Mrs. Jones was crying as she worried about her small grandson and his parents.

I was only 11 on September 11, 2001 but that day I wasn't worried about terrorists. I was worried that this little boy might never see his parents again. I didn't understand what was happening but I understood that something terrible had happened in New York. I asked my teacher what was happening and she pulled my friend Brittany and I out of class and told us what happened. Moments later, the principal announced that he was sending us home. He said, "Today is a day to be with your family, to be with those you love." I got home and when I opened the door, the second tower collapsed. I remember my mom holding my 5 year old brother and sitting with my friends mom. Joelle and I just stood there in shock and confusion. I was scared and confused.

Their may not have been a happy ending for this country but I take comfort in knowing that on that terrible day, their was good in the world. People were kind to one another and their was unity in this country like never before. The next day at school, Mrs. Jones came to tell me that her family was safe. Her son in law had gotten out of the North Tower safely and he was reunited with his wife and his young son. Mrs. Jones thanked us for caring. She said she was grateful that two young 11 year olds cared about her family that they had never met. Her daughter thanked us for caring about her son and offering to help in any way that we could. So while many families were shattered that day and the country was in darkness, their was a ray of sunshine for this one family.

I love the words of President Monson, “If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us.

“We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.“

Let us have the faith in God today that we had in him on this day ten years ago and always remember those who died, those who went in to save others and sacrificed themselves and above all, let us remember those who continue to fight for our freedom everyday. I'm grateful that ten years later I am married to my best friend and that I have the opportunity to obtain a college education so that someday I can teach children.

I know what fear and terror feel like but I will always remember September 11, 2001 and live each day being grateful that I have been given today.