In the midst of the chaos that is the world today, I want to take a moment to remind everyone living on American soil just how much blue lives matter. If you are already jumping to conclusions that this is just another closed-minded article written by some brainwashed, ignorant, white female, then you are exactly who needs to continue reading. I am not one to advocate using someone's death as an excuse to push a political agenda as I believe it to be extremely disrespectful. However, when I can't even turn on my TV or log onto any of my social media accounts without seeing yet another headline of this still-growing war between law enforcement and citizens, examples become necessary. This is not an endorsed political statement nor is it anything written for my personal benefit. This is simply a reminder to you, the people of America, of who is actually being disgraced when "f*ck the police" has become the new bandwagon trend.

Fifteen years ago, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and attempted attack on the Capitol Building left not only a physical gaping hole on our turf, but a bottomless pit in our hearts as well. On this day, hundreds of emergency personnel, (many of whom were not even on duty that day), dropped everything they were doing at the first realization of the tragedy. These quick-thinking heroes took over buses, taxis, and any means of transportation to get them to the scene as fast as possible. They stopped at nothing to dive into explosions and pitch blackness with no concern for their own lives- every concern for those trapped on the inside. They saw no color, no ethnicity, no age, no religion, no gender- hell, they couldn't even see more than three feet in front of their own eyes. They did not stop nor did they have any intention of leaving people behind even if it took them to their own graves.

Fallen Officer Moira Smith, the first officer to report the terrorist attack, escorting a man to safety. She directed panicked traffic out of the North Tower, saving hundreds of lives before giving her own in the process.

It scars me to know that I am a part of the last generation to physically remember witnessing these attacks on the news and living amongst the aftermath of depression and hopelessness. As time goes on, like any other historic event, it's losing it's emotional impact on society. Little by little each year, there are less tributes, less memorial services, and less moments of silences being held in schools, churches, office buildings, and many other public places people would be gathered on September 11th. I can only imagine what it was like to have been there in person, watching people jump from several stories above the ground, seeing thousands of people's lives taken from them before you even had the chance to blink and pick your jaw up off the floor. Now, I have to ask- would you rush into a burning building, debris and flames encircling every fiber of your being if you knew you had even the slightest chance of saving one life? Maybe you say you would, but most would be in a state of panic, unsure what to do, and the first thought would be to call... who? Our first responders.

Fallen Officer Ramon Suarez escorting a woman to safety before rushing into the North Tower, which then collapsed.

Nearly three thousand civilians were killed that day, and that doesn't even include over four hundred rescue personnel who lost their lives in attempt to rescue these people. Seventy two of these brave souls were officers from eight different local, state, and federal agencies. Because of them and other rescue teams who were fortunate enough to survive, an estimated twenty five thousand people were saved. That's twenty-five with three zeros. Our law enforcement and fire departments managed to save nearly ninety percent of the population that could have been killed in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds. Now let's take a step back and think about this for a moment.

Imagine this same event happened today.

Do you think your ethnicity, religion, age, gender, or color of your skin would have stopped our law enforcement and rescue teams from running into a burning building, unsure if they would come out alive at the end of the day?

If you think so, you have a very skewed perception of reality.

Officers comforting each other in the aftermath of the terror that took the lives of thousands, including their blue brothers and sisters.

Our law enforcement officers, fire fighters, military personnel, paramedics, and any other positions of honor consist of people who signed up for these careers knowing that there is a huge chance they may not survive each work day. To them, it does not matter if they perish in the line of duty because they sacrificed themselves in attempt to save someone else. Yes, there is corruption out there. In any field or aspect of life you analyze, you will find someone who is not fair, not abiding by rules, or doing what they do for their own selfish interest. However, generalizing groups of people, especially those who would lay down their lives for you in a heartbeat with no questions asked, is not only a slap in the face to them, but to yourself as well.

These people stand for you.

They fight for you.

They put their lives on the linefor you.

The whole reason they do what they do is for you.

Disrespecting them means disrespecting yourself, because the only reason they do what they do is to protect and serveyou. So, please, keep this and all fallen officers, soldiers, and rescuers in mind before you decide to tweet about how much you resent law enforcement.

To those who fell in the line of duty, to their families, and to anyone affected by the tragedy of September 11, 2001, you are forever in my thoughts, and I wholeheartedly thank you for your service.

For more information on fallen officers from this event and several others, visit the Officer Down Memorial Page.