I put up an American flag outside in memory of those lost that day before leaving my sister's house in San Luis Obispo.
On the drive home, the rain sprinkled the windshield. It felt like the world was crying in remembrance.
Back home, Sunday night football showcased the New York Jets against the Dallas Cowboys. The memorial opening was to perfection with the taps played on a bugle, the traditional French horn playing, bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" during the unfurling of the American flag by members of the NYPD and FDNY, and then finally a performance of the national anthem by Lady Antebellum. To top it off, the Jets won.
After the game, I watched "102 Minutes that Changed America" on The History Channel. This documentary highlights a series of video clips recorded by civilians on September 11 from different areas in New York City. It gives you a completely different view of the events, especially views from the street as well as from surrounding apartment buildings. It puts the events of that day in a unique perspective from the people who were actually experiencing it and gives people across the country more than what the media covered. Watching this, I actually recognized one of my coworkers from Macy's in the video taken in Times Square. Seeing him there brought this closer to home - realizing that the friends and many of the people I met in New York were actually there that day and experienced the terror first-hand. I was brought to tears watching the second plane crashed and when both towers collapsed. It's heart-wrenching to watch, but it's a part of our history that we will never forget.
On this day, Americans will stand united and always remember the nearly 3000 lives that were lost - the innocent civilians, the first responders. God bless America.
