Johnny's feelings about the tragedy that rocked the world five years ago today.
God bless America again and never forget!! >Tears!<
What can be said when somebody mentions September 11, 2001? Probably not much can be said, or maybe it can't. It all depends on who you ask or are trying to remember what you were doing that fateful day in history five years ago today.
I was at school then. We were in the hallway, horsing around and cutting up, acting silly, when our principal got onto the horn and mentioned over the loudspeaker that planes had just hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City (as well as the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.). Both the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon were now on fire.
I will never forget the stunned looks on the faces of my classmates. I will never forget the sheer helplessness I felt when I realized that my older brother, Erick, who lived in New York City, was to go to the World Trade Center on a class field trip. I wondered if he was hurt in some way, and at the thought of it, I immediately began to cry.
Because of what happened, school was let out early for the day. None of us could concentrate on our lessons, especially me. I felt sick to my stomach, and my head was filled with worry over the fate of my older brother.
Upon getting home, mama and daddy greeted me in a huge bear hug. Both were crying. Seeing their sad faces scared me. I knew immediately that whatever had happened was bad, very bad. My mind was full of questions; but the question that stood out most in my mind then (and now) was: "WHY?"
I wanted to watch television, but mama and daddy wouldn't allow it. They said what was being shown on the tv was terrifying and it would only upset us. Instead, we were to go to our rooms, play quietly, pray, or read our Bibles. None of my brothers or sisters had smiles on their faces: their faces looked like the faces of our parents: sad. It really bothered me.
I learned later that day that our country had been attacked by people who hated America. Because of their hate towards us, they used planes like bombs, and they ended up killing thousands of innocent people--men, women, children. They wanted to bring America to her knees and bring fear to every living man, woman, and child.
Hearing all of this scared me even more, especially when the news mentioned that the twin towers had fallen in a pile of smoky rubble. I couldn't believe it.
Those buildings were HUGE!, I remember thinking. They couldn't have fallen: they were much too big! It had to have been a huge mistake!--
I began thinking about my brother, Erick. I wondered if he was hurt or trapped in the rubble. I tried to call his house, but there was no answer. No freaking answer. All I could do then was pray that he had made it out alive or that he was okay.
That night, we went to church. Pastor Bilkey tried to help us cope with the magnitude of what happened; there was a lot of people openly weeping, praying, crying out to God, searching for answers. A heavy sadness pressed down upon us, and we prayed for those most affected by the tragedy. I remember some of the elderly ladies of our church hugging me, and I remember telling them about my brother in New York City and how worried I was about him.
After church, we went back home, to hear the President speak on television about the tragedy. He looked suddenly older, careworn, concerned, as he recounted the day's events, but his words gave me hope, especially when he mentioned that we would not rest until America got those people who were responsible for the attacks. He told us to pray for the fallen and to reach out to those in need of comfort.
Now it is five years later, and once again, we mourn those who perished that unforgettable day. Once again, I feel a heavy sadness upon my heart. I feel uncertainty, fear, and unanswered questions. I wonder if we are to be hit again by terrorists. I pray I never experience anything like September 11, 2001, ever again, and I pray for protection upon our hurting nation. I pray for those directly affected, and I even pray for the terrorists--pray that God can change them. It isn't easy, but I feel that this is the right thing to do.
I pray for our President and the government, that God will give them the wisdom to get through this sad anniversary, and that God blesses our hurting nation.
God bless America again! Never forget! I know I won't!
~Written by Johnathon (Johnny) Sandusky, aged 13 1/2, on September 11, 2006. :( >tears!<
P.S.: I heard from my older brother several days later after the attacks. His class had gotten out long before the towers fell; best of all, he wasn't hurt, just very shaken up. He is now 17, and he has nightmares about the tragedy. I am grateful to God that He saved him from a horror-filled death; it could have very easily been so much worse than it already was!
