I Remember

Eight years ago this morning started out like any other morning for me. It was a routine news day at KWFC Radio. I had just wrapped up my morning news duties, and was getting settled in for the mid-morning news calls for the stories we were following.

That would change when our office manager would walk into the news room and mention that one of the world trade center towers had been hit by a plane. I turned the television on to Fox News when there was discussion that it had been a Cessna-type plane. That all changed when a jet flew into the picture and slammed into the other tower.

Immediately, we all knew this wasn't an accident, and I broke into our normal music programming to begin several hours of wall-to-wall coverage of the event. We quickly called in all our staff to go cover elements of the story around the area.

Then, smoke was seen billowing from the Pentagon. Another jet. Shortly after that, another jet was down in a field. Rumors of lost contact with a fifth jet circulated. They'd later be proven false, but they signified the fear and panic that had stricken our nation. We were afraid.

All flights were grounded. People were stuck wherever their planes set down. Yet, there was still fear other attacks were planned by other means.

Then, the unthinkable happened. The towers fell.

We were stunned.

It wasn't because these buildings came down so much as it was the realization that we were watching the deaths of thousands of people.

On the ground, people were fleeing for their lives. Television reporters were breaking down in the middle of their reports. Even I nearly lost it a couple of times while reporting the events of that morning. Had to fight the emotions. That was hard.

We went through that day with fright. We didn't know what was next, or where it would strike. By the end of the day, however, we were angry. We were mad. The sleeping giant had re-awoken, and a price would be paid.

I remember how our nation awoke. We were determined. Those who waged war on America would soon feel the wrath of America. But, our president cautioned us. It would not be a quick war. The enemy had many hiding places. I think we knew back then that it would span past his time as our leader.

As these eight years have passed, America has slowly limped back into her slumber. Gone is the widespread rage at the attack on our soil. On OUR soil. All the attacks up until September 11, 2001, had occurred on someone else's soil. It was our property being attacked, a ship, an embassy, an outpost. But, it was in a different part of the world. This was here. HERE.

Today, we have forgotten. The outrage has been replaced by apathy for the drawn out war on terror. Our microwave, instant-everything culture has lost it's interest in fighting for our country. Our politicians have realized this and turned from a determination to win into a determination to blame the previous administration.

Eight years removed from the tragic events of that day, and we're ready to throw in the towel. We claim to be the greatest nation on the planet, but have no stomach for war and death.

Rememberance. Determination. Victory.