Still remember

So I know September 11th was last Saturday. Since my wife’s birthday is also on the 11th it is very important to not forget. I also have a great niece who was born on September 11, 2001 and I made sure to tell her mom to give her a hug from me on her 20th birthday.

For those of us that are old enough to vividly remember what we were doing at the exact moment when we first heard about what was happening that morning it will be something indelibly etched in our memory bank. Even if you try to forget it you won’t.

There are a lot of people that would like that memory to go away because of their dislike for the big, bad United States. We recently left Afghanistan clumsily after nearly 20 years of trying to rid that country of terrorist cells. But timing really means nothing to people that believe they would do more good exploding a suicide bomb in the middle of a crowd of innocent bystanders killing and maiming as many people as possible.

Fighting against people that believe their value as a murderous bomber will be rewarded in the next life makes it difficult to know if victory could ever be accomplished. The chapter of this book may have ended but there is a good chance the brutal saga will continue.

Looking back 20 years ago we went to work but we followed what was happening throughout the day and into the night. There was fear that the terror would spread across the entire country. Because of the unknown, flights were immediately cancelled and no flights could enter US airspace for several days.

Today we are subject to searches at airports and our luggage is x-rayed and well if you’ve flown in the past 20 years you know that it is important to get to the airport around 2 hours in advance. No last minute flights and one way tickets without luggage is frowned upon, if you know what I mean.

As with C-19 today we wondered when or if things would get back to normal. All sporting events were postponed that first week or so in order to mourn for those that we lost on that fateful day.

Once the baseball season resumed we started watching and hoping that the momentous season that the Seattle Mariners were having would result in a world championship. The M’s won a record tying 116 games but their hopes fell short in the American League Championship series to the New York Yankees and the Seattle nine hasn’t reached the playoffs since.

But getting back to playing sports was a huge step for most all Americans. We needed something to feel good about again and sports was a major catalyst. We also got to see football take off and there was a lot of patriotism. If you ever wonder why God Bless America is played during the seventh inning stretch at Sunday Major League baseball games it all got started after baseball resumed after the 9/11 attacks.

Each football season the EWU Eagles as well as many other schools will have a game to honor the military and the team will wear some camouflage blended into the home jersey. Former military members with ties to EWU either as a student or employee are also introduced and very much appreciated. I know a lot of other schools honor the military as well but since I typically only attend Eagle football games I can only speak for my alma mater. At many venues you will also see a football field sized American flag displayed and some extraordinary renditions of the Star Spangled Banner.

Whatever your thoughts about the USA just remember there is no other country that gives more than this one even when we can’t afford it. There is no other country that has more volunteers that help in desolate parts of the world to treat the impoverished or help locate the lost during earthquakes. Part of the reason is that this country is the world at large all trying to come together as US citizens. We all have ties to someplace and being an American is a good thing.

After 20 years we still remember and we should never forget. For many that pain will never go away.