September 11, 2001 is a date that everyone knows.
It is a day that many families lost their loved ones.
It is a day that no one can forget.
It is a day that changed America.
It has been 15 years. Can you believe it? Although I was young when 9/11 happened, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in my first-grade classroom. The day started like any other day would for first graders. Everyone was talking with their classmates as they were walking into the classroom off of the bus. We were putting our backpacks away and getting out homework from the night before out on our desks.
School usually starts around 8:30 in the morning.
8:46 am the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Instantly killing everyone on board, and those working on the floors that were hit.
9:03 am the second plane crashed into the South Tower. Again, killing those inside the building and those on that plane.
Within those 17 minutes our world was completely changed. How is that possible? Meanwhile, in the small town first-grade classroom new broke loose. Every TV throughout the school was on to that news channel. There was so much chaos, I don't even know how people were able to think. I remember kids being picked up by their parents. Then it was my turn. I remember my aunt coming to pick up myself, my siblings, and my cousins eventually bringing us all home to our mothers. Bring hugged and hugged as we walked in the door, just to see that same news channel on the TV at home.
It was a traumatizing day.
15 years later and so much has changed. But the feeling of missing a loved one is something that will not change, no matter how long has passed.
There is an incredible memorial is honor of those this country lost, luckily I had the chance to go see it.
Taking a day trip to New York City to see the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is something that will never be forgotten.
One of my favorite things to see was the Survivor Tree. After the attacks, there was rubble and debris piled on the ground for months and months, but through all that was one tree, still standing tall. Well, maybe not standing tall.. the tree was broken and burned but lucky to still be alive, so it got placed somewhere else to regrow.
The ledge surrounding the memorial pools are inscribed with every single person who died during 9/11.
With such a tragic happening, it changed America completely. We have lost and we have learned. September 11, is a day to remember the innocent who lost their lives, the first responders who gave their lives, and the volunteers for years after to clean up the site and make it into something that everyone can come and reflect on.
