We will never forget!

It's a common post on Facebook today.  "Where were you?"  Meaning, where were you 12 years ago today?  For me, that's very easy to answer.  I was in room 511 of McCormack Hall at Western Kentucky University.  I used to never get ready for classes with the TV on, but for some reason that morning I turned it on.  The "Today Show" was on and I remember the vivid scene of the tower being nothing but smoke and fire and diminishing before our eyes.  I honestly thought they were showing a clip of a movie (a very sick movie I thought) until my eyes came to the four letters at the top of screen, "LIVE".  And my heart sunk.  I went on to my Tuesday morning class, but we were given the option of watching the news unfold if we wished.  So I, along with many classmates, friends and strangers watched as history was made and our world was forever changed.

Yesterday I was able to go downtown Elizabethtown and watch as Foam 161 made it's way from Ft Knox to Elizabethtown and back before it's final resting place at the Patton Museum.  So I gathered my kids and niece and grabbed an American flag and we stood on the sidewalks as the truck made it's way along the procession.  I knew there was no way of explaining it to Audrey and Reid and I found it hard to describe to Addilyn, a six year old.  My explanation was simple, "some really bad people flew a plane into some buildings and a bunch of people were hurt and killed that day.  Your mommy remembers it very well and we're gonna be able to see a firetruck that was there that day.  And your mommy really wants to see it".  

So the kids and I lined the sidewalks with so many others and they held their flag proudly and waved to those who waved at them.

Watching them take it in, even without knowing the significance and remembering all those who lost their lives that day and the days following I felt pride.  For the friends and classmates that lost their lives fighting for our freedom; and those still fighting, my heart was full of pride and my eyes misted with tears but I held my head a little higher, because we live in the land of the free because of the brave and I AM PROUD!!

After leaving the sidewalks and treating the kids to slushies, my mind was tell on what we just left and my thoughts traveled back to 12 years ago.  And I asked myself, "if someone were to ask me why I took a 2, 3 and 6 year old the procession of that truck, what would my answer be?  And it's simple, RESPECT.  I want my kids to grow up knowing the significance of this day and events.  I want them to understand why America is the greatest country to live in, and I want them to respect those in the armed forces and the first responders.  I want them to believe in our country and what it stands for and to know that the red, white and blue are colors that don't run and that they too should be proud of the USA.

God Bless our troops that are still defending our freedom and those who fought giving the ultimate sacrifice.