A Day to Remember

It has been a really long time since I have written a post, but my heart is longing to write again after a period of too busyness lack of creative thought. Today I was contemplating how to talk to my young students about 9/11. It is part of our country's history now, so should I talk about it? We say, 'never forget', but at what age do children need to learn to "remember". I wanted to share with them the importance of the day without making them feel scared or insecure in the world they live in. All of this consideration has brought that day's events so clearly back to mind. Sometimes, on this day, I can feel the same pit in my stomach that I felt that day, and tears would flow so easily if I let them.

I had just gotten married four months prior to the day. I worked in the office at the WA State Dept. of Natural Resources and my husband worked for DNR in the field as a Wildland firefighter. The day was sunny, nice...especially nice, I thought. I got out of my car and started to walk into work, passing the mechanic I said, "Good morning!" in an especially bright tone, because it was going to be a great day...I could just feel it. "If you can call it that!" the mechanic replied. Thinking he was pretty grumpy for such a beautiful day, I responded, "Why do you say that?" "Haven't you heard? Our country is being attacked!" I was confused and alarmed at what he said but figured he was exaggerating about whatever he was talking about. I entered the building and the receptionist told me she didn't know exactly what was happening but a plane had just hit a building in New York and they were talking about it being intentional. She told me they set up a T.V. in the back. In shock, I hurried to the back just in time to see the second plane hit the second tower and a chilling gasp filled the room by all who witnessed it. We watched in horror for the next few minutes when they told us we should all go home and be with our families. My thoughts immediately went to my husband... I needed to know he was safe and let him know I was coming home. He had the day off and was already watching the news as the towers now burned side by side with the whole world watching. I remember the feeling in my hands as I drove home...they shook, they were cold even though it was a warm, late summer morning. I had a pit in my stomach as I feared the known and even more the unknown.

Once home, my husband and I were glued, as was much of the nation, to the news. Every channel showed the image of the two towers burning and chaos in the streets of New York City. It felt so far away and yet so close. Then, in a moment, the first tower crumbled, live, for the whole world to watch. Realization that our country was under attack was more apparent when the news showed the Pentagon on fire, then a lonely field in Pennsylvania. Fear set in....where next? What now?

Those memories are as fresh now as the moment they came to pass. When it came time to talk to my students about what today was, I knew the truth was way to scary for their innocent hearts to hear. I knew I had to share something about this day but not all that weighed heavily on my heart. I printed a page to color:

Then I oh so briefly described what happened, but our focus was on 911. I pointed out what the date was, 9/11/19,  and told them how and why to call 911. We talked about how many people on that day must have called 911 and how brave the police officers and firefighters who responded were.  We prayed for all first responders, those who died and those who even today put their lives on the line to save others.

I am grateful for the opportunity to impart gratitude in these young hearts toward our first responders. That is what they can take away from this day, until they are old enough to learn the sad details in full.

It is strange to me to think that to most students in school at this point, this occurred before they were born. To my own children, it is history. I try to remind them each year how united our country became after the events of this day. How nobody seemed a stranger, American flags flew from every car, every home, people talked to each other and we all seemed proud to be Americans.  We say 'Never Forget', but I think we already have. We've forgotten that we should be proud to be Americans. We've forgotten that we are here to help one another and build one another up. How far we've come! I pray that it doesn't take another tragedy before we become united once more. Let's honor this day and the memories of those who died tragically by being kind to one another, being proud and grateful to live in this great (even if faulty) country of ours, and by thanking those who risk their lives every day to save others.

https://youtu.be/EEogeIIOJzU