Marquis Mommy Adventures: 9/11 May We Never Forget

I didn’t get a chance to share my thoughts yesterday on 9/11. I was only 16 that day, but I strongly remember the vulnerability I felt as I watched my country being attacked, the country I grew up always thinking that was built of indestructible steel, a country that no one would ever consider fighting against. After that day, I realized over time how much I took our freedom for granted in this country. As I watched people I knew be deployed and head off to war fighting for our freedom, I knew that life as I knew it had drastically changed. In some ways, my free spirited care free childhood ended that day as I watched the trade center collapse, the pentagon get hit by a plane, and watched live on tv as people jumped from buildings 60+ stories off the ground. I remember feeling completely helpless because I wanted so badly to help those emergency services workers search for victims. I had been apart of a fire department as an explorer (program for teenagers) since I was 14 and had some fire/ems experience and training. In some ways, I felt that I had lost family when over 300 fire/police were lost in the rubble of the towers.

I remember a few weeks later, standing side by side with my father in uniform (he in his police uniform, and I in my fire explorer uniform) at a special memorial service for those who died. It was the first time I went to a service where Taps were played, 21 gun salute was heard, bells rung, and I stood there among fellow police/fire/ems workers and tried my best not to shed tears. But I also remember the patriotism, the unity, and feeling extremely proud to be an American. I will never forget that day, as it is etched in my mind forever. I am proud to be American and I am proud to be a paramedic/firefighter and serve in my community. Yesterday we had a special memorial service and we have a new memorial in remembrance of 9/11 in front of our fire station. Our new pipes and drums band played, we had our honor guard present the flag to a family who lost their son at the pentagon. I always enjoy the unity, the “brotherhood/sisterhood” there at the department and glad I could be apart of it. I work with men and women who I trust with my life. There have been many times when I’ve been in scary situations at work where my nerves have been comforted because I know that I have a brother or sister watching my back and I’m extremely grateful for that. I am glad for our freedom, I’m grateful I can walk down the street safely, and speak and worship my religion freely. I hope and pray that my family will continue to always have those freedoms. May God continue to bless America and may we continue to never forget.

Me at work...