Where Were You?

I was working my 10 hour shift in the Wal-Mart Pharmacy in Jacksonville, NC.

If you've ever shopped at a Wal-Mart in a military town, you know how busy that store can get...well that day, 10 years ago, our Wal-Mart was basically empty. Everyone was glued to the tv - wherever they may have been at the time it became apparent that the United States was under attack.

My husband and my 4 month old (Brendan) were both on base at Camp LeJeune - the largest Marine Corps base on the East Coast. The base was on complete lockdown; I was so afraid that I would not be able to get on base (even though we actually lived there). I finally got home around 8:30 that night.

I was 27 years old and a new mom. Life was good. JC was in the military, but times were peaceful.

JC feeding Brendan the night before the 9/11 attacks.

Life changed in a blink of an eye.

What I remember most...

sitting in our tiny living room rocking Brendan with tears streaming down my face as JC packed his seabag the night of 9/11/01. J was told to be ready to deploy to NY to triage survivors. Of course it became apparent very quickly that there were few survivors - so he never left. I was so scared for our family, our country, my son who had just entered this world. I no longer felt invincible...I no longer felt like I could protect this tiny little boy from the bad guys.

That is the only way our family was affected by 9/11. I cannot imagine how devastated the families who lost loved ones felt back then and today as well.

Of course people lose loved ones every day, but the magnitude and senselessness of 9/11 were just so monumental. Our country was forever changed.

Today we remember those loved ones. We won't forget.

I pray that our country continues to stand and fight.

It is that faith and hope and love of country that keeps me feeling safe at night.

God Bless the USA!!!