Remembering September 11th – In My Own Words

I wrote this article immediately after the tragedy on September 11th.  I’ve reposted it each year as a personal reminder of the tragic day – I can still remember nearly every moment; the emotion, the pain, and the way everyone came together.

I Am An American

I wish that everyone could understand exactly what that means. I live in a country that offers all of its citizens the right to do anything they want to. I mean anything. Some try to take this to extremes and commit acts that are illegal, but hey, can you blame them for trying?

After all, this is America…Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. If you want to shoot the moon, why not try it in a country where they have some knowledge of that planet. Been there, done that.

I believe that every American has the right to free speech and even the right to burn the American flag if they choose to do so.

Unfortunately I see that as a sin. I am a citizen of the greatest country this side of paradise and I’m not too willing to see someone burn my flag. I would gladly stand up and sacrifice my body to block the bullet intended to destroy this country if it would allow my family and my friends to live the rest of their lives free. You see, I love America.

I always wondered why anyone living in such a country as ours could feel anything other than sheer and utter happiness. I look at my life and smile at the opportunities I have in front of me.

Why does it take such an act of terrorism to bring us together?

I’m a sports fan. I believe that football and baseball are part of our country just as much as apple pie and Chevrolet. When my team went to the Superbowl, I thought life couldn’t get any better. I was wrong.

When I witnessed the American public embracing America, I was brought to tears. Sports seemed so trivial. Football and baseball were simply things we Americans watched to pass the time. They weren’t really important. My job also wasn’t too important. As a matter of fact, nothing I could think of made a difference to me on the day of the tragedy. I only had one concern. There were American citizens trapped in a wreckage of a once proud symbol of American life and they probably were going to die. I had family members who worked in that building and I feared for their lives. I cried a tear for every missing American. You see, I love America and her people.

It is my deepest hope that every American citizen looks at the devastation in New York and Washington and feels only hope. It sounds strange to wish for hope in light of such a horrible event, yet it is the only path we can walk. I HOPE we as Americans remember that America is the land of the free and that we will die before we give up that right. I HOPE no one forgets those who perished. I HOPE we can rekindle the fire that burns deep inside each one of us. I HOPE American citizens will continue to do things we were doing in spite of our fears. I HOPE everyone will root for Army, Navy, and Air Force this weekend. They will be playing long after the fourth quarter gun has sounded.

God Bless America.

Remembering September 11th, 2001

• Author
• Recent Posts

R J Schwartz

I write about everything and sometimes nothing at all.I'm fascinated by old things, rusty things, abandoned places, or anywhere that a secret might be unearthed.I'm passionate about history and many of my pieces are anchored in one concept of time or another.I've always been a writer, dating back to my youth, but the last decade has been a time of growth for me.I'm continually pushing the limitations of vocabulary, syntax, and descriptive phrasing.

Latest posts by R J Schwartz (see all)

• Who Are You? - May 26, 2023
• I’m Haunted By The Useless Lines - May 25, 2023
• Step Away Oh Gentle Butterfly - May 16, 2023