Never Forget

September 11, 2001 I had an infant who wasn't quite three months old and a toddler who wasn't yet two. Sleep was a hot commodity. Aaron woke up for his morning bottle. I sleepily got him out of his crib and went to the kitchen to warm a bottle. I sat on the couch to feed him and turned on the t.v. That is the part I had done many times before and don't have a mental picture of in my head. The rest I do.

The t.v. just happened to be set to the Today Show. Bryant Gumble was talking about planes hitting the Twin Towers. The second plane had already hit and up to that point the coverage had been about what a tragic accident that was. In my mind I was still thinking what a freak accident it was that two planes had hit the towers. I'm sure words like hijackers and terrorists were coming from the t.v. but I just couldn't wrap my mind around what had occurred. Was this real? It was just seconds later when I realized what was truly happening. Bryant Gumble said, "My God. There is smoke pouring out of the Pentagon." As I type that I can remember that sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.

P.K. was active duty at the time and had a physical fitness test that morning so he had left the house really early and was not yet home. When he walked in the door I asked him if he knew what had happened. He said his CO had informed him. We just sat and stared at the t.v. I'm not sure we knew what to say or do. Eventually he said, "I had better get to work."

There was a women's group on base called CWF (Christian Women's Fellowship). We met on Tuesday mornings and that particular morning was our fall kickoff. I drug myself away from the t.v. long enough to get myself and the kids ready to go. Part of me wanted to just skip it and sit and watch t.v. I think the desire to not be alone was a bit stronger so I went. We prayed and worshipped together.

I will never forget those who lost their lives that day and how our nation came together and we stood united for a time.

I also will not forget what happened after. We have had many friends or spouses of friends deploy in this war on terror. To our service members who have deployed (some multiple times) and face future deployments, thank you. To their spouses who have stayed behind and made sacrifices of their own, thank you. Because of them we have not had to face the horrors of that day on our home soil. To my friends who have watched their spouses deploy, (this is a bit mushy) but I am so proud of you. You know who you are and you are some of the strongest women I know and I will not forget!