So, when I hear people talk about what 9/11 means to them I try to hold back the tears and hide the pain that can so easily.... I would consider myself having been a patriotic person all of my life. Ever since I can remember listening and singing the words to the National Anthem brought tears to my eyes, even watching the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Some may say that we are instilled with a knowledge that we know things that we cannot remember. Choices we have made for this life that have not yet happened. And, maybe those emotions I felt were of the knowlege of what was yet to come in which I did not know.
After the events on 9/11 our President, George W. Bush, declared the War on Terror. And, so our country went to war seeking to destroy the people who attacked our innocent land. For me that meant that the guy I knew I would marry was going to eventually get sent off to war and he did, twice. He served in "Operation Iraqi Freedom" for 15 months, came home for a little over a year then headed back out for another 12 month tour. Same place same war. During this time my brother, Shannon, was wanting to provide a better life for his wife and young daughter and decided to enlist as an Army Medic. I remember him talking to me about his decision on joining the Army. It was never a question of "Should I join" because he knew that it was what he wanted. I always told him what the benefits of being in the Army were, and telling him about Riley's deployments, how bad they sucked...but if Riley could do it, so could he." I find myself often wishing that I would have told him different. But, I know he believed in what he was doing...he wanted to help Soldiers and that is exactly what he did. He was so proud to save lives...he liked to refer to himself as Superman and in joining the Army, becoming a Medic...he had found his calling. Being part of the Army was being part of something BIG, he was living his dreams and being the person that he knew he was meant to be. Not long after he arrived at his first duty station, Fort Campbell, he received orders that his unit 101st Airborn would be deploying for a year to Afgahnistan. We all knew this day would come because our country is not done trying to protect us from the Taliban. I know that my brother was scared. I know he did not want to leave his beautiful pregnant wife, and young daugther behind for such a long period of time. Everyday he was in danger. Everyday he went out with a mission and that was not only to protect and save those around him but it was to protect us from something like 9/11 happening again. He was brave and heroic. My brother was so great at what he did that the Soldiers that he attended to were scared to have any other Medic take his place because they knew that if something happened to them, he would save them. He was offered a new position, where he wouldn't have to go out on missions anymore, he'd stay in a "secure" area and tend to the wounded. But, he loved his fellow comrades and felt he needed to be with them so he stayed with them and continued to go out on missions. They hiked endless amounts of rocky mountainous terrain day in and day out in the blistering heat. And, yet none of them gave up, none of them surrendered because they knew they needed to keep our Country safe. On November 12th, 2010 my brothers unit came under attack and many were instantly wounded. As my brother ran to help a fellow soldier he was shot, fell to the ground and got back up to run back to the soldier in need as he neared the wounded he was struck by a RPG. "Mission First, Never Quit, Never Accept Defeat, Never Leave a Fallen Comrade"...these words were instilled in him and he acted upon them. For his great sacrafice many are grateful. I especially being his sister am so proud of my brother's heroic acts of selflessness. He was strong, determined, courageous and truly a Hero.
“The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues.” by President George W. Bush.