I cannot believe it has already been 16 years since the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

The number of lives lost that day and how it is still sobering... the older I get the more I feel the pain of that day. I was only 12-years-old and in the 7th grade. I remember being in our home room class when all of sudden our teacher turned on the TV in the class room. I don't think I understood the concept of terrorists or that our country was under attack. And at 12-years-old I don't think I understood death. I think I knew people died but I didn't understand the general concept that thousands of people had just been killed in the most horrific way and weren't coming back.

I do remember knowing it was a sad thing because teachers were in shock and crying and I remember going home that evening and watching the night news at dinner with my parents and them being incredibly sad and angry. But although I am 28 now, I can still remember all of it. I don't think the reality of it starting making sense until college. And now I have an understanding of the continued threat and politics behind war, hate and how the rest of world fits in to the picture.

It still breaks my heart seeing pictures. Hearing stories. And even to this day there are still pictures and stories coming out that I haven't seen or heard in all these 16 years. This is truly an event that shook the whole world and touched almost everyone.

I hope this nation never sees something like that happen ever again. I hope that the emotions of that day stick with people and that when things get bad we remember how we all came together. I love this country and I know you do, too.

Where were you that day?

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