"We will never forget?"
By: Leesa Gilcrease
Like so many people, I remember exactly where I was this day. I couldn’t tell you what I was wearing or why it was that my Mother and I had been sitting in traffic for what seemed like a
decade, but I remember the looks of helplessness and shock in the faces next to us. In dead stop traffic on a day like any other, the world just stopped. Our ears glued to the radio in
disbelief, “A second plane has crashed into the South Tower”. The reports just kept coming, one after the other “The South Tower has collapsed; A plane has crashed into the
Pentagon; The North Tower has collapsed; Federal Buildings are being evacuated”. I’ve always looked to my Mom and Dad for words of wisdom, an explanation for why things are the
way they are when I can’t make sense of things, however on this day, I didn’t ask her why. I couldn’t bring myself to ask her. A little bit of everyone’s innocence was lost that day. It was
easily the most surreal and humbling moment in my life.
Although the civil war ended some time ago, our country never really united as it should, standing as a whole and supporting those who fight for our freedoms. You can pretty much
sum it up into two basic groups, those who complain and those who maintain. The individuals who complain typically want the entire world to cater to their beliefs and to accept them for
“who they are” regardless of the impact it has on society. Those who maintain do everything in their power to keep the complainers at bay and have a positive influence on the rest of
the country. They pass on such wisdoms as defend your family and country, you get only what you’ve earned (regardless of your minority status or lack of motivation to work) and so
forth. The funny thing is this, effective September 11, 2001 through roughly a year or so afterward (maybe), the United States of America stood as a whole. The common perception
was “How dare you come into our country, threaten our way of life, our freedoms and our children. You have woken the sleeping giant and now we’re pissed”. It’s interesting how quickly
someone will abandon their “Give peace a chance” preaching when they are attacked. What’s more, men and women everywhere enlisted to fight for our freedom. They did not join
because they wanted a free ride through college and thought they’d never have to fight, they did not join for the sign on bonus, the joined for each and every one of us. Our soldiers
went overseas to a dry, unfriendly, scorching nightmarish hell to fight for us…that blows my mind. The days to months which followed the attack were especially inspiring. Every car
donned an American flag with the famous quote “WE WILL NEVER FORGET!” or “Support Our Troops”. Every station played the national anthem. There must have been a thousand
memorial funds and tributes.
As time went on, life went on. Americans went back to their regular way of thinking. On the anniversary of September 11th, many stations would have a moment of silence followed by
the national anthem, but that was about it. At least they took a moment to acknowledge what happened and thank our soldiers for their sacrifices.
Today is September 12, 2007, the day after the six year anniversary of September 11th. Yesterday, with a heavy heart, I got in my car for the long journey to the office. I turned the
radio on to listen for the national anthem, I wanted to take my moment of silence to honor those who died and those who fight for our freedoms today. The dial on the radio changed
from station to station…nothing. I continued to listen to the radio all day thinking surely they would say something however the mindless rambling of the disc jockeys were all that graced
the air waves. I watched television when I got home, still nothing. I have a question. What happened to “WE WILL NEVER FORGET”? Did America forget the anniversary of the day we
lost and gained so much? Did we stop caring about those who gave their lives for us? My Dad put an American flag on his website to honor this day and these sacrifices. I urge anyone
who reads this, take your moment of silence, say a prayer, thank God above for your freedoms and most importantly, honor your commitments…DON’T FORGET.
"Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes, or in their offices;
secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers; moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror .
. . This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before and we will do so this time. None of us will
ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world."
--George W. Bush
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