Today is the 10th Anniversary of the attacks on our nation.   Its a day we will never forget, and the only day that my generation has ever truly felt that terror of war brought to our homefront.

As most all Americans, I will never forget that day and the feelings of shock and disbelief I had when I learned of the attacks.

9/11 Attacks – 10th Anniversary

I was just arriving at the shop (Lugo Performance), and was online working on the website when I saw something hit AOL news about the attacks.   I immediately turned on the radio to listen in as each station broke in reporting the latest in the terrifying events.   Just minutes later, I could hear the agony as the world watched the second tower hit.   It was a scary and helpless feeling.

I didn’t know anyone in Manhattan, I didn’t know anyone in DC, but tragedies of this magnitude immediately make you recheck your own life.  I called my family, I called my best friend Heather in California and woke her with the news.   We all sat glued to the televisions.   Tears flew down my face as I watched the towers collapse.    4 different planned, malicious attacks on our soil.    It was unfathomable.

Florida, was eerily quiet that day.  No planes in the sky.   No one running around.  Everyone was glued to the TV, the radio listening and watching with horror.   It was though those attacks had stopped the world from spinning in this country.   I wanted so bad to jump in a car and head for NY.  I wanted to help dig those poor people out.  I wanted to do SOMETHING.  ANYTHING.

I remember the address that President Bush gave late that evening.

“Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts…

…These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.”

If anything good came out of that day, it was that at least for a brief time, we all were one.  One nation.  Under God.  Indivisible.   We were a proud and patriotic country that day and for the months after that we united to fight back.  To not be afraid.   To honor those we lost.   There was no political agenda.  No conspiracy.   I felt as though I was experiencing the patriotic dedication of our forefathers, that I always imagined life was like during the Allied battles of WWI and WWII.   Where we all came together to help our fellow countrymen, where bravery was honored and respected.

Of course, that faded with the settling dust, but at least I was able to experience that patriotism in my lifetime.   If nothing else on today’s 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks,  I want to be sure that I remember the brave souls that fought on the front lines that day- NYPD/NY Fire/Rescue, Pentagon, and all those who took this fight off our soil and continue to defend us today.

We will never forget.