Preparing for our take-off this morning, Terry & I stopped at 8:50 and paused with the rest of the country to remember and honor those who suffered and died during the attacks at World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA. Twelve years ago, I was driving to St. Dunstan's in South Glastonbury to deliver some Open House information from St. Christopher School. I was struck by what I had heard on my car radio...a report that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. What could that mean? I shared my query with the secretary at the church. It sounded confusing; how could that happen? The answers began to unfold as I drove back to St. Chris and heard the further reports of a second plane. Someone had attacked us; terrorism, in a massive scale, had reached our shores. The rest of the day was spent hearing the horror continue, getting directions from the local authorities, and working with our staff to fold our arms around our students, to get in touch with our parents and to try to absorb the enormity of what had transpired. Somehow we knew that nothing would ever be the same, but I am not sure if we knew then just how different our world would become.
And here we are 12 years later, planning a trip across the country. One of the reasons we can still do that sort of thing is because of the sacrifice made by so many heroes and their families who have kept us safe for all these years. We will never forget the tragedy of 9/11 and the price paid by those who gave their lives. Perhaps the building of the 9/11 memorial, the Freedom Tower and the Memorial Museum will stand as testaments to our country's enduring strength in the face of evil. How blessed we are to be able to take off today and drive to destinations for the sheer joy of it.
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