It started out as a normal day. Men and women woke up and gathered their bags, preparing for a normal flight. Men and women grabbed their Starbucks and bagels and headed on into work. Pilots and flight attendants prepared for a routine flight. Husbands and wives woke up and went about their day, not realizing that their loved ones would never walk back through the door. Children went off to school, never to see one of their parents again. No one knew. No one was prepared. But it happened anyways.
The first plane hit and people gathered around, marveling in horror at the "accident" that had occurred. Then, as people watched, a second plane crashed. It was not accident. Not anymore. We had been attacked and we knew it. Firefighters rushed in, risking their own lives for the lives of people they had never met and Police Officers rushed in to save lives. The United States banded together. We pulled out our American flags and flew them high. Red, White and Blue splashed across every surface all around our nation. We cursed those who had attacked us and prayed for those who were most affected by the act of terrorism. They had meant to make us weak, but instead they made us strong.
But that was Fourteen years ago,
Now, police, even the good ones, are sought out and attacked. Their lives are threatened even more and people shoot them in the back and cheer. They are mocked and hated. They aren't seen as heroes as they were on that terrible day fourteen years ago. Now they are the targets. The flag that once flew high, uniting a nation, now gets stomped on beneath the feet of protesters and ruffians and thugs. You can't even say, "God bless America" without being told to be quiet lest you offend someone. Children are allowed to sit down and refuse to pledge the flag in school every morning.
What has happened? Have we really forgotten that day? Has too much time passed? Have we lost all respect?
My children were born years after that horrible day, but I will tell them about it. I will raise them to respect their flag, their country and their God.My daughter may be only four but she already knows the Pledge of Allegiance by heart. She even says "under God." They will both recognize and respect the flag and what she stands for. They will be taught about the lives that were lost fighting for our freedom. They will know our history. I teach my children that police are HEROES, because they are. Just because they aren't running into burning buildings and pulling people from rubble on national TV like they were fourteen years ago does not mean that they do not risk their lives for us every day. They deserve our respect.
I remember that day and the chills I felt all those years ago return. I remember the fear I felt. I remember the pride I felt. I remember the anger. I remember, and I will never forget.
Will you?
