Patriot Day

I snuck out early to take Rosie on a walk before the hustle and bustle of the morning started and I noticed my neighbor putting out his flag.  Patriot Day.  I told him that seeing the flag made me happy and sad all at the same time.  I have such vivid memories of that 9-11 morning.  I was a sophomore at BYU living in Sherwood Arms apartments with my cousin Emily and our roommates Chelsy, Shannon, Lisa, and Faith. I was having breakfast and getting ready to head up to campus when my Aunt Sharon called to tell us to turn on the news.  We turned on our tiny tv and were shocked to see that a plane had crashed into a skyscraper in NYC. I'm embarrassed to admit it but I had never been to NYC before and I didn't know what the twin towers were.  I felt a little numb and confused but at that point I didn't feel scared.  I watched as long as I could before I had to leave for my class.  I assumed I would learn more about what was going on on campus and that we would talk about it or at least watch more news footage in my class...but when I got there my professor said that terrorists are trying to disrupt lives and cause fear and so the best thing we could do was proceed with class as usual.  I totally disagreed and couldn't wait for class to end so I could get in front of a tv screen or computer to find out more.  I don't remember if I was watching when the second tower was hit or how much news I watched.   But I remember that as the morning went on I began to feel real fear.  I was confident BYU tucked away in Provo, Utah was an extremely unlikely target...but the idea that we had been attacked, in our own country, something that hadn't happened since Pearl Harbor in 1941 during a time of world war...really upset me.  

They called a special assembly in the Marriott Center for all BYU students and magically I found my brother Adam and his girlfriend Jenny and I felt SO much comfort being with my brother.  I don't remember what was said at the meeting or what I did the rest the day, although I'm pretty sure I watched the news the rest of the day. 

 

I felt so unsettled and wondered what was going to happen next.  Would we go to war?  Were more attacks coming?  I also remember feeling a huge amount of American Pride.  Everyone was buying American flags and hanging them out as a sign of solidarity...and perhaps hope.

  I didn't hear him say it at the time but Mr. Rogers said in an interview that in times of crisis and destruction, his mother had taught him to look for the helpers...because they would always be there.  Horrible things happen...but there are always people who are trying to come to the rescue and to make it better.  The firefighters running into collapsing and burning buildings, random bystanders helping, comforting, and carrying people to safety. 

 As the news stories continued on and on over the next several months, I was so touched by the incredible stories of bravery, courage and compassion amidst so much terror.  I hope that in my own small way I can always be one of the "helpers."  I feel certain that everyday people are in need of "helpers" to comfort and help them.  Even simple acts of kindness and charity can be so meaningful to someone who is feeling sad and lonely or down for any variety of reasons.  Going forward, 9-11 is going to be a reminder to me to be one of the helpers.  There is so much darkness and terror in the world, but there is also so much light and goodness too.  I want to always be one of the helpers.  I want to bring light.