Yes, this blog is supposed to be about the story of our lives since Michele had her stroke. But the significance of this day prompted me to share my 9/11 story and pause for some reflection.

We all have days or events in our lives when every detail is etched into our brains. I think it’s safe to say that 9/11/2001 is one of those days. I just graduated High School a few months prior and was in the Delayed Entry Program to enlist in the U.S. Air Force. I was getting ready to go to work and got a phone call from my mom. With fear in her voice, she told me to turn on the TV. Once I turned it on, I saw the second tower being struck. From then on, I was locked onto the TV. I saw the people jump out of the towers to their death, probably to speed up what they knew was the inevitable. I remember crying. I remember being angry. I remember being confused. So many emotions. How could this happen?

A few days after the attack, I got a call from my recruiter. He asked me if I wanted to move up my enlistment date. I wasn’t supposed to enter active duty until December. But on October 23, 2001, I raised my right hand and swore to protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign or domestic. Just like that, I was an Airman!

I remember how “united” we, The People, were. Instead of burning flags, we were flying them high. You could see blocks where every house was proud to show off ‘Ol Glory. When this country needed to the most, we stuck together. While we were “struck down, we were not destroyed, while we were persecuted, we were not abandoned.”

Now 18 years later, we are a nation divided. Sure, it’s easy to point the finger at one person and say he or she is the reason. But what we need to do is look at ourselves. Look at our own heart. Are we willing to “lay down our life for our friend,” or for a stranger for that matter. If everyone lived by the Golden Rule: Love your neighbor as yourself, the world would be a much better place. We always care for our own bodies. We feed it, we clothe it, we groom it, etc, etc, etc. Are we like the Good Samaritan who put aside the fact that this Jew was an enemy; the Samaritans and the Jews hated each other. Or are we like the other Jews who passed by on the other side of the road? Please, today, choose to be like the Good Samaritan.

I would love to hear your 9/11 stories and/or hear your response to my reflection. Please subscribe to the blog and post in the comments.

Let’s get back to being united. After all, we are the United States of America!