-Remembering September 11th-
The Day the Sky Went Silent
A late summer day I strolled to my 3rd hour
Honors English class, chatting it up with the girls. When I entered
class, CNN was live with horrifying pictures of a tall skyscraper,
billowing black smoke from its enormous, almost surreal structures.
What had just occurred I was still questioning when the answer
literally flew into the neighboring building.
The human mind is wondrous, capable of
comprehending even the most complex of equations. To actually witness
an event that leaves the mind so perplexed, so incapable of even an
attempt at understanding, is a moment I will never forget but not want
to remember.
A state of shock, numbness throughout mind,
body, soul and even faith. Senses only reactive to the grotesque
tragedy unfolding before my very eyes. Then, the Twin Towers Plunged.
The human instinct is amazing. Instinct to be
caregivers and caretakers. The intense desire to come to one
another’s aid in times of distress. Our instinct can coincidentally
cause us tremendous pain and grief when we're unable to help.
Helpless I was, my heart aching to come to my fellow American's aid.
Watching human lives being ripped away, people plummeting from
buildings, the screaming, grown men weeping, families being forever
changed... A moment I will never forget but not want to remember.
School let out and in silence we drove home.
Family members were accounted for and prayers had begun. Nightfall
had settled upon us and I sat out on the porch. Above, the dark,
evening canvas was blank. Where airplanes usually circled, waiting
for their okay to descend was nothing. The air now held an eerie
silence that almost took my breath away. There I sat on a brisk, late
summer evening in the United States of America, questioning our safety
and freedom. Two elements I never would have thought I would ever
question. A moment I will never forget but not want to remember.
September 11th, 2001 will forever be a day that
I don't want to remember. I don't want to remember the screams. I
don't want to recall the terrible events that I had witnessed. I
don't want to relive the intense emotion I had felt. Most of all, I
don't want to remember seeing the pain and fear endured by my fellow
Americans. But I refuse to forget.
I refuse to forget in honor of America's heroes
that gave their lives that tragic day. I refuse to forget because the
days following that horrific incident showed the world that the United
States of America is built on a foundation of unity and strength, that
we come together as a nation to help one another and to stand strong
together in times of strife. We will unite to defend our freedom and
will fight back against those who attempt to take our freedom away.
I honor America's heroes who gave their lives
that day. I remember the innocent people who passed away that day. I
thank all of our Troops and their families who dedicate their lives to
protect our rights and freedom and who fight to free those who are
suppressed. I take pride that I am an American.
September 11th, 2001: A day I will always
remember and refuse to forget.
-Lisa Murphy
Written 9-11-2007
