Marking the 10-year Anniversary of the 9-11 Attacks

9-11. Osama Bin Laden. Terrorism. “Let’s Roll”. Firefighters. NYC. The Pentagon. Shanksville. Jihad. Muslim Extremists. Operation Enduring Freedom. Afghanistan. Taliban. Smoke ’em Out.

These are the words that mark a day in the lives of my generation of Americans.

I was 22 years-old, finishing up college and in the midst of starting to plan my wedding to a man who I was hopelessly in love with. It was to be our beginning, however on September 11, 2001, everything changed.

On that day, three planes were hijacked and our country was under attack. The Twin Towers were struck and soon crumbled to pieces, our Pentagon was partially destroyed, and Pennysylvania had a new hole in the ground of their state’s landscape.

Indeed, it was a traumatic event in mine and my countrymen’s lives.

I felt it. I felt it so deeply that I temporarily stopped planning for my future and simply sat in silence, watching what would unfold as Operation Enduring Freedom. I was scared and uncertain of what lie ahead…

Ten years later, I send up a big peace sign and all the love in my heart to every American and every immigrant who appreciates and has made America their home country.

Everyone contributes something beautiful to this land if they choose to. So if you’re here for now or for good, make the choice to contribute the best in you. If not, well, you know where you can go.

I wish for God (or whatever you call your “being” and sense of consciousness) to bless us all, for their to be unity and harmony, for people’s beliefs and way of living to be fully respected.

9-11 gifted me with one solid understanding of one thing:

Although, I have a deep appreciation for all countries and cultures, if ever a question is posed as to who I’d go to war for, if ever attacked and need to defend a land, if ever called to serve, to stand for a nation of people, it’d be Americans, because I am American and I represent the United States of America.

Stay true,