9/11

Ten years ago today I didn't understand what was going on. I remember we were all getting ready for school when someone called us and told us to turn on the news. I really had no idea what was going on. When I went to school I only knew that some tower had been hit by an airplane. I didn't know it was intentional or that while I was at school more things were happening. I remember at school this kid I was sitting by told me that the school was going to be bombed by some bad people. That got me scared for the rest of the day but it obviously never happened. It wasn't until about four years after it happened that I realized the magnitude of 9/11. I realized that it was a big deal and we recognized it every year and that it was a terror attack but I didn't realize how many lives were lost or how it changed our nation. I didn't even know until a couple years after that the Pentagon had also been hit or about flight 93.
Today I understand everything. I understand that thousands of lives were lost. I understand that because of it many people in America began to live in fear. I understand that many heroes arose that day. I understand that America has changed greatly since that day. I understand most everything about it except for one thing. I don't understand how those people did what they did. They were willing to sacrifice themselves to kill thousands. It doesn't make any sense to me why anyone would do anything like that. For whatever reason, they did it and if I were them I would be scared to meet my maker.
Out of all the sorrow and fear of that day arose hope and strength. I'm most proud to be an American. I'm so thankful for the country I live in and for those who protect it.