Remembering 9/11 Eight Years Later

This morning, I caught my buddy Dutch Dooley talking on his Kix 96.5 radio show about the mixed emotions for him today. He knows it is a day of sadness for so many, and it should be a day we don't forget. But it is also his son's first birthday.

When I got up this morning, it had not dawned on me that it was 9/11. I was saying my blessings for the new home and family I now have, enjoying the sunshine. As soon as I turned on the radio, a tribute was playing on 102.1 with all the voices and soundbites of that day. I went from joyous to somber and began to feel the moisture in my eyes. I waited for the tribute to finish before channel surfing to find someone else talking about that day. It's eight years later, and I still long for that connection on this day that we all seemed to have with those around us, even if we didn't know them.

I'm only 30 years old, but I can remember every single detail of that day. Again, it was a day for confused emotions. I was in the middle of planning my wedding, starting my last semester at college, preparing for interviews for jobs after graduation. I remember jumping in the truck to drive to campus, and all the radio stations were just talking. The Cumulus stations had all linked up with Ben and JT and some others trying to describe the events as they were happening. It was utter chaos. So much was happening. It seemed I was the only person on I-16 that morning. I arrived to campus in shock. Georgia Southern is a big school, but you could have heard a pin drop. TVs were out in the hallways, students just stared in silence at the screen. A couple of classmates were from NY and were outside frantically trying to get through to their families, but all the cellular services were jammed. We had a family member at the Pentagon we couldn't reach. We would later learn he just missed the plane going through his office all because his secretary was out sick and he had to return his tray back to the cafeteria himself.

Classes were canceled for the rest of the day, yet people still lingered. I couldn't tell you the names of more than two people who were in that hallway with me, but it was a moment we all shared. It seemed safer to be around others. For the first time in my life, I took comfort in the surrounding of strangers.

I can remember the surge of American pride in the days that followed. Every store sold out of flags for homes and cars, we wore buttons and pins. We were really, truly united. Eight years later, I wonder what happened to all that. One massively, tragic event made most of us forget our own selfishness and consumption of our individual lives and instead get to know our neighbors and do whatever we could in support of our country.

So on this day of remembrance, I challenge you to not only remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day, or those who have been serving our country to protect us, but to also remember your sense of unity with fellow Americans. Take the time to say hello to a neighbor, get to know a co-worker better, or do one random act of kindness for someone you don't know. I promise it won't kill you, and it actually just might make you stronger.

To the Dooley family, I wish you all the happiness as you celebrate this momentous day with your beloved son.