by: Joelle Charbonneau

Today the sun rose in the east.  It will set in the west.  Across the world people will get out of bed,
eat breakfast, go to work, to school, to stores and to hundreds of other
destinations.  Rain or shine, today is a
just a normal day.

And yet it isn’t.

Eleven years ago today, the world shifted on its axis.  War from an unknown source fell from the
sky.  Smoke billowed from the twin
towers.  Heroes rushed to save those
inside.  Heroes became victims as the
towers fell, the Pentagon was struck and passengers aboard another flight
performed a selfless act that saved lives at the cost of their own.

Today is a day to remember those who were lost to the
attacks.  To remember those who saved
lives and those who could not be saved.

I remember where I was when the towers were struck and the
world around me became shadowed with fear.  I was inside United Airlines World
Headquarters under lockdown surrounded by those who wondered if they knew
someone who was on one of the planes that had become weapons in the sky. 

I remember the heartbreak.

The uncertainty.

The horror.

The fear.

And finally the hope that tomorrow the sun would rise again
and things would get better.

The sun has risen today, but I have only to think back to
that day and I feel the knot in my stomach tighten and tears burn my
throat.  Because today is not like any other
day.  It is a day to remember.  To reflect and to promise those who died that
we will not take their sacrifice for granted.

Today is September 11^th and I remember where I
was.  What I felt.  And what I learned.  And I’m glad. 
Some things are not meant to fade or be forgotten.

To commemorate the day, I would like you to tell me where
you were when the planes hit the towers and the world changed.  What do you remember?  What lessons about the people around you did
you learn?  What do you hope we never
forget?