5/1/2011

I was 14 years old, sitting in my 8th grade math class when there was an announcement on the school intercom - "there have been terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon." The school did not give any further details nor did they show the news broadcasts on TV. We were sent home early that day, and then I saw what had really happened on the news. I was in shock & disbelief.

A year later I went to NYC and went to Ground Zero. They were still clearing out the rubble and outside of a church there was a huge memorial, filled with flowers, signs, cards, balloons and stuffed animals. It really moved me emotionally. Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost because of this attack.

Last night I got a text from E asking if I was watching the news. Since the cable is kind of funky in my room, I did some Google searching instead and saw the Breaking News headline: Osama bin Laden is dead. Twitter was blowing up with the news. I went to msnbc.msn.com and watched the live video feed about the issue and also anxiously awaited Perez Obama's address to the nation. Honestly, never once in my life have I been so interested to hear what the president would say, except for this time. I don't really care for Obama, but he made a wonderful speech in my opinion.

I'm glad Osama is dead. I know it's not right to "rejoice in someone's death" but don't forget, we lost nearly 4,500 American soldiers trying to hunt this man down. It took 9 years. Then finally a team of very badass Navy Seals got the job done.

In a perfect world, this would mean that the war would be over and that all of our soldiers can finally come home; but in reality, that isn't the case. Killing Osama was a key point in the war no doubt, but that does not mean that all terrorist attacks will cease. To all of my friends currently serving, my husband, and to all U.S. Military personnel serving overseas, please stay safe and stay vigilant. I have a feeling this isn't over yet, and there may be some backlash.

God Bless the U.S.A., our citizens, and all of our Military personnel who keep us safe.

Until they all come home...