Remembering 9/11

Its hard to believe that 4 years ago today that our country was faced the tradgedy that has now become known as 9/11. It sounds cliché, but I can remember sitting in a meeting when the new was announced but someone running into the room. I can remember trying to get a hold of Stephen to confirm he was okay and then trying to get a hold of mom and dad to let them know we were fine. I remember calling Cindy (we were still early in our relationship) to let her know what was going on in DC and calling her mother because she wasn’t able to. I can remember walking into my apartment that night, picking up Zanzibar and sitting on the bed, stunned by the images being replayed on TV.

Our country became stronger in its brotherhood that day, we can see that by what is happening down in New Orleans today. We can see that by the woman who has taken in 52 victems of Katrina and provided them with food, shelter, and a place to get back on their feet. We still have our political differences, we still have idiots around us, but I believe, perhaps naively, that the country is more united that it has ever been in my lifetime, but has lots some of its strength.

The events of September 11th, left three thousand families without brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and left countless more without friends. While I didn’t know anyone personally who died in the tragic events of the day, it isn’t hard to see the countless number of people who have been impacted by the day. So as we approach the third anniversary of September 11th, lets try to remember that the people we pass on the roads, the people who were are complaining about in line, and the people who frustrate us to no end are the same people we were bonded to in the days following September 11th. They are the same people we talked with and cried with, why do we treat them differently today?

For as much progress as we have made, I am disappointed with how we treat our law enforcement and fire fighters in this country. These are the people that go running into danger, while others are running away, this are the people that say, nothing is going to happen to you on my watch, these are the people that do this everyday, no just on 9/11 or in the aftermath of Katrina. Some of you know, my uncle is a Captain in the FDNY so this issue may be a bit more personal to me then some. Do me a favor, thank a police officer or a fire fighter when you see them, not just for 9/11 or for specific events, but thank them for the job the choose to do for us every day and for the protection they afford us.