9-11....15 years later

15 years after 9-11 happened and I can still remember the sounds, smells and sights of what was going on when I was watching the footage.  I remember every word that was spoken like it was yesterday.  I remember the fear for our nation.  I remember the fear for my family, not knowing what was happening. I remember the awe I felt watching what was happening.  I remember the pure grief I felt watching the events unfold.  I remember it from the perspective of someone hundreds of miles away.

But what about those that lost someone that day?

Their memories are so much different.  They can remember the sights, sounds and smells of what they were feeling watching the footage but they are also remembering the feelings of losing that loved one.  They were feeling fear more enormous than what I could imagine because they knew that their loved ones were right there.  They were feeling what I was feeling and yet the heavy, heavy feelings that come with all that the loss of their loved one.  I grieve for these on this anniversary.  I grieve for their loss and the pain they still must feel every day but especially on anniversary.  They are in my prayers.

I also think about those that lost a first responder.  They knew that their selfless public servant was running toward the danger while everyone else was trying to flee.  They knew that the odds were stacked against them and yet, they were willing to give their lives for those that they were sworn to protect.  I think about the feelings those husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters felt as they watched the events unfold, knowing that their loved one might never come back from this horrible event.  They are in my prayers.

I think about those that were lost in the events themselves.  Some of them killed on impact.  Some killed in the collapse.  Some died jumping from the buildings.  Some lost on planes.  Some first responders killed.  So many lost.  So many lives that has so much ahead of them....gone forever. The stories of those that died coming to the rescue of others are incredible.  Some running back in to save coworkers.  Some standing there holding the door for others to flee quickly.  Some rushing the terrorists on a plane to make the plane miss its intended target.  So many lives that were lost in such terrible events.  They are in my prayers.

There are just so many that my heart goes out to today and I know that the pain and grief that I feel on this day is nothing compared to what they feel.  Some say that we shouldn't focus all of our attention on it but I feel that we should.  We should remember those feelings.  We should never forget what happened that day and those feelings we felt.  We should never forget how we united as a nation.  We should never forget what we're fighting for, still.

Never Forget.