Marking the 9/11 anniversary.

Today I will steer away from the usual sports frivolity and remember what happened eight years ago today. I think it is safe to say that the September 11 attacks changed how all Americans view the world or at least did for a little while. I for one used to think that such crazy things only happened in Israel and the rest of the Middle East, I was rudely awakened on that day. I was watching ESPN that morning and they had a post in the corner about a plane hitting the Twin Towers, so I quickly turned the channel to NBC thinking only that it was an awful plane crash. I wasn't on NBC for more than minute before the second plane hit the towers and then I knew something was not quite right. I spent that entire day glued to the television waiting for more information and often finding tears rolling down my cheeks. I never cried so much in all my life as I did in the following days, as the stories of the brave men and women who lost there lives were told. My son, Nicholas, was only a year and a half old and I was so thankful that I wouldn't have to explain what was going on to him, because I'm not sure if I could. A wave of patriotism swept over us in the months that followed, something that seems to be long gone as we once again find political parties sniping at one another like ill mannered children over some of the most foolish things. Sometimes I wonder how much we really learned. I visited New York nearly six years after and went to the museum that commemorates those who were lost that day. I read the stories of the missing people and the few that survived and I once again found myself crying openly. It was an emotionally draining visit but one I was glad I made. So to finish up here I would like to thank all the firefighters, police officers, EMT's and other public servants that help us out when things get dangerous. I want to thank the men and women in the armed forces who put there asses on the line everyday to secure our freedom. You are the true heroes. I hope God blesses you and keeps you safe.