Remembering 9-11

Today, my 7 year old daughter went to a flag raising ceremony for an event that she knew nothing about.  She wasn't alive the day the twin towers crashed into the core of America's heart.  She doesn't remember the fear that gripped the nation nor the tears that we shed for weeks.  She doesn't feel the ache that still lingers after so many, many years.

In some ways I envy her not knowing.  She has an innocence that most of America lost 13 years ago.   She had that innocence until today. 

Today I told her.  I told her about 9-11.  I told her about the many lives that were lost.  I told her about the pain our country felt.  I told her why it is important that we remember.  There are still many details I will wait to tell her, but the important part is she knows.  She now knows that being an American means being united with people that loss something great.  She knows that our country is worth fighting for.  She now understands a bit more why sometimes people have to go to war to protect what they believe in.  She learned a little more about what it means to have pride in America. I hope the flag will mean a little more after today.  I told her so we all can remember.

Ironically, I found a poem today that my mom wrote on the 1st anniversary of 9-11.  It is twelve years since she wrote the poem, but it spoke to me as if it had been written today.  I am trusting she won't mind me sharing it here. 

In remembrance...  by Donna Gallagher

The wind is restless today...
Not violent...not gentle...just restless
Stirring grass, trees and leaves
Stirring memories as we grieve

New York, PA, DC
Flags and Tears flow free
Memories etched in souls
Ashes now grown cold

Remember-we must do
Honor those we knew
Salute the men of blue
Stand strong - resolve anew

Our President declared
We'll fight and will not fear
Each name, each story lost
With resolve we'll count the cost

Today, the anniversary,
Infamous day in history
Neither wind nor the lot we see
But we feel their presence in every breeze

The wind is restless today...
Stirring every soul
Souls standing on blood soaked ground
And those set free and heaven bound

The wind is restless today...
Brushing cheeks of streaming tears
Shaking off remaining fears

The wind carries a gentle embrace
To all who remember a missing face
Let it blow, let it stir within all who feel
Let it descend with hope, let it heal

September 11, 2002