9/11

This is a date that I will never forget...it is one of those memories that you recall what you were wearing, who you were surrounded by, and all the events of the day just like they were yesterday. I can't believe that it has been ten years since the tragedy of September 11, 2001. I was a sophomore in college at Texas A&M and had gotten up early to take the bus from the Kappa house to campus for an 8 am German class. By the time I got back to the house, I walked in the back doors and passed through the living room and saw a number of my sorority sisters sitting down on the sofas and chairs with their eyes glued to the TV. Now it was 9 in the morning and it was rare that so many girls were up and awake...The towers had both been hit by the commercial airplanes but neither tower had fallen by the time I started watching the screen. From the moment I got back, our eyes were glued to the TV for hours and hours and hours as we watched everything unfold. I remember thinking that the attack on the World Trade Center must be something out of a scary nightmare and not the reality that we saw before our eyes. I remember many of us crying and in shock of everything that happened. Shortly after I got to the house, A&M cancelled class for the rest of the day and the only reason I had my class in the morning was that we simply weren't aware of the events that had taken place in New York City, the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania.

The Ground Zero Memorial is now open in NYC. It looks like an amazing tribute and I look forward to visiting it one day soon.

Texas A&M has an uncanny ability to corral the entire student body in moments of tragedy and the days following the attacks on 9/11 were no exception. In a matter of days, a handful of students had an idea to do a "red, white and blue out" at the September 21 Aggie vs. Oklahoma State football game. This small group of students made t-shirts that they sold for a mere $5 each. I stood in the red student section, standing proud. Proud to be an American and proud to be an Aggie. The Corps of Cadets marching band formed a USA in the middle of the field at halftime and brought tears to almost all of eyes as we stood in remembrance of the events on 9/11. It was amazing to see 80,000 people participating in the red, white and blue out. This game made national news and I will never forget being a part of this tremendous game. 

Alan Jackson wrote one of my favorite tribute songs about what happened on 9/11. The lyrics are below.

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?
were you in the yard with you wife and your children or working on some stage in LA
did you stand there in shock at the site of that black smoke
rising against that blue sky
did you shout out in anger in fear for your neighbor
or did you just sit down and cry

did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones
and pray for the ones who don't know
did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble
and sob for the ones left below
did you burst out with pride for the red white and blue
the heroes who died just doing what they do
did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer
and look at yourself and what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
the difference in Iraq and Iran
but I know Jesus and I talk to God
and I remember this from when I was young
Faith, Hope and Love are some good things He gave us
and the greatest is Love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
teaching a class full of innocent children
or driving down some cold interstate
did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor
in a crowded room did you feel alone
did you call up your mother and tell her you love her
did you dust off that Bible at home
did you open your eyes and hope it never happened
close your eyes and not go to sleep
did you notice the sunset the first time in ages
speak with some stranger on the street
did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow
go out and buy you a gun
did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching
and turn on "I Love Lucy" re-runs
did you go to a Church and hold hands with some stranger
stand in line and give your own blood
did you just stay home and cling tight to your family
thank God you had somebody to love

The greatest is Love
The greatest is Love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?