9/11 Ten Years Later: Important to Reflect and Remember

Katie Pavlich | September 11, 2011 7:00 AM

"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me." -Psalm 23:4

Here we are, 10 years after 9/11 and it seems just like yesterday.

As for most Americans, September 11, 2001 was just another day for me. My dad dropped me off at school, I had only been in the 8th grade for a few weeks. When I got there, it was around 7:00 am in Arizona, it was 10:00 am in New York and Washington D.C. It wasn't common practice at my house to have the tv on in the morning, so when I walked into class that morning, I saw the news of what had happened on the screen for the first time that day. I had never been to New York City and was confused, yet I quickly began to understand America was under attack, we were at war and things would be changed forever. Osama bin Laden was the new face of evil for my generation and I knew young men and women not much older than myself at the time, moms, dads, sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, would be heading into enemy territory and making the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe while bringing justice to the those innocent Americans murdered on that day in the name of Allah.

I have to admit, when the news came in May late on a Sunday night that Osama bin Laden had finally been killed, I celebrated. I was alone in my apartment when I heard the news and became overwhelmed with emotion, tears of joy were immediately brought to my eyes. It was a proud moment for America and I was so proud of and grateful to our brave Navy SEALs for getting the job done.

Now, 10 years later, it is interesting and important to look back and reflect. As time goes on, it's easy to forget the massive scale of destruction that occurred on 9/11, just how much those attacks really changed the way we live our lives on a daily basis, but America is still healing and "we will never forget." Everyday on my drive to work, when I see the Pentagon on my right and Arlington Cemetery on my left, I am grateful and I always feel blessed to be an American.