As 9/11 approaches us I wanted to take a minute to think back about how everything changed for our world, our country, our military, and for my little just began family.....
I was stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia and had been married almost a month. Samantha and I were quickly learning just how hard real life can be.....dealing with finances, learning to live with another person, growing together as one, among many other things. I remember vividly that we struggled, it was different, difficult for us both. She just leaving her house for the first time and just turning 18 years old. And me having been out for a year, full of my youthful ignorance not understanding why it was hard for her...why was I not enough for her? Why was our life together not enough after such a short time? These were the insecure things I thought at my young age.
I was in school learning how to do my lab tech job...dying slowly, trying to keep my eyes open learning how we find out how to run a machine that a monkey could operate...all of a sudden people went running to the break room and as a student and a private in the Army I was like sweeeet no more work today! Little did I know this scramble for room around a TV was just the beginning of my work as a Soldier. I found a spot and watched in complete shock and amazement at the destruction. I immiediately attempted to call my new wife to see if she saw this only to find out that the cell phone network were all busy and all the lines on the base were shut off as well. I couldn't completely understand what was going on and only later did I realize what truly happened that night when I was finally released and allowed to go home to see my wife. We sat together in our tiny...and I mean tiny apartment on our couch watching our small 21 inch tv we got from my grandfather. What we didn't know at the time was that not only these events would change our lives but something had already happened to change it further...
What we did know was that alot of people...innocent people died that day. We were attacked on our own soil and the thought of it was preposterous to me...my glaring confidence and thought that we were untouchable was gone. We were vulnerable. We were devestated. Our Nation hurt. I remember thinking this may change everything about what I expected of what me being a Soldier would be like. I was correct. Two deployments, which I will go into later, and alot of changes in my life.
What we should remember is the bravery shown by our emergency personnel that day....the firefighters showed such a crazy level of courage that I can only dream of. I think if the situation arose where I had to run into my house on fire to get my child or wife, I would....without hesitation. However, at that situation for total strangers I think I would do the same, but would we really?? Would there be a moment of hesitation? of Selfishness? Of Fear? Im sure there would be. Im just thankful that there were a group that pushed yhat fear aside and went to rescue fellow Americans. They risked and some of them gave everything so that the people they saved would have a chance at life...As a man I think we all hope we would have that courage. That we would have that drive and gut to disregard ourselves and be heroes. These men showed extraordinary bravery and should never be forgotten. These man and women stepped up and I am in awe of the courage. Remember these Americans....
My life changed and shortly thereafter we found out that we were bringing our daughter into this newly changed world. Let's all take time to look around...look at what we have been given. what God has blessed us with. What treasures are in our lives instead of complaining about the little things let's see the value in our family and friends...in our smiles and laughs ...in cheers at football games and moments together.
9/11 may we never forget....
No comments:
Post a Comment