There are only a couple dates in history that will forever remain etched in the hearts and minds of Americans, date that will never be forgotten. Where were you on December 7, 1941? What were you doing on November 22, 1963? Do you remember September 11, 2011?
That’s one date I’ll never forget.
It was a Tuesday, and I was working in a grocery store in Massillon when a co-worker’s mother called and told us about a plane crashing into the World Trade Center. Shortly after that, we got news of a second plane hitting the New York City landmark. We knew then that this was something huge and no coincidence. A third plane hit the Pentagon, and a fourth hijacked plane was coming our way.
I felt so many emotions as I later drove home. I was confused, angry, and scared. I remember wondering how I was going to explain all of this to our six-year-old daughter. If I couldn’t understand why America was being attacked and what was going to happen next, how was I supposed to answer the questions I was certain she was going to ask?
Now, here we are, sixteen years later, and we still can’t explain why terrorist hijacked and crashed four planes loaded with innocent people. But whatever the terrorist cowards hoped to accomplish that day, whatever victories they claimed to have gained, they did not win. Remember that fourth plane that was coming our way? The first battle in our fight against terrorism was won in the air over rural Pennsylvania when a small community of passengers on Flight 93 decided to do something and not let evil have its way.
It seems like every other day another group comes along and tries to take away the blessings our country enjoys.
Let us never forget those that perished on September 11, 2001. Let’s not take for granted the brave men and women who fight for our country everyday, sixteen years after that terrifying attack on our country. Always remember where you were that day and how far we’ve come.
Thank the first responders in your community and support our military. Let’s not allow evil to win and destroy what makes us a great nation.
-Rick Slayman
Custodian