Let's Roll

Chorus class was probably my least favorite class in sixth grade.  I liked singing, eventually found out I was pretty good at singing, yet still couldn't get past the chorus barrier.  All of the kids in fifth grade to seventh grade had the same chorus class.  One teacher reigned as dictator; and boy did she dictate.  That woman could scream as loud as she could sing.

Do you have random memories like this one?

One day in chorus class (which was held in my school's auditorium), the whole school started filing in behind us.  Really?  This dictator teacher was making us sing for the whole school?  No.  The date was September 11, 2001.  It was 9:00AM, and there was an emergency school assembly.

The headmaster of my school walked up to the podium, a TV was rolled in, and there we saw terror for the first time in our ignorant and pure lives.  Planes hitting the World Trade Center...people in fear and shock.  Was this some sort of accident?  No one knew the answer to what we were watching unfold.

President George W. Bush stated a year later, ‎"For those of us who lived through these events, the only marker we’ll ever need is the tick of a clock at the 46th minute of the eighth hour of the 11th day."


What even was a terrorist?  Where were they from?  Why did they hate my country?  All of these questions kept running through my head.

Recess was given to us as we waited for parents to pick us up for the day.  There, I saw something so incredible that I know it is a memory I will never forget.  A plane, staggering so low through the sky, I felt as if it was going to hit my school...

The final plane on September 11, 2001 to be captured by terrorists, hit an empty field thanks to the passengers and crew of Flight 93.  These heroes fought for their freedom, and for ours when they stood up to the terrorists...just like so many people in our country's military do today. The words, "Let's Roll" have become infamous...and the empty field is only miles from my home in Western Pennsylvania.

Ten years later, and there still is something that pulls so deeply at me and my heart on this day.  It is a mix between sadness; that there are people who hate us and our freedom so much that they would harm so many civilians...and pride, when I see our country coming together in remembrance.  Pride when I can personally relate to those serving our country...and am so proud of Pat for doing so.

Years in the past, my family and I have been invited to the ceremonies and memorial service that is held for the heroes of Flight 93.  It hits home because of how close this tragic event happened to me.  Last year, Pat got to come with us to the event.  We saw Laura Bush and Michelle Obama speak, and got to see the families who lost loved ones on that tragic day in U.S. history.

Pat and I at the Flight 93 Memorial on 9/11/10

We are so blessed to have the freedoms we do.  Love is so evident on this day, and I just wanted to take the time to share with you how grateful I truly am for everything I have been given.  

Sometimes I wonder if I were put in the same situation as the passengers of Flight 93, what I would do...I am hoping I would be strong enough to say, "Let's Roll".  God bless America, and y'all.  Hope you had a wonderful weekend, and stay tuned for pictures from a very eventful weekend!

9/11/01...forever in our hearts.