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Monday, September 11, 2006

- Essay by Paul Swinehart, Grade 8

On September 11th, 2001, I was awakened from bed early by my Mom. On the television, I saw two skyscrapers in New York on fire. They had been hit by airplanes.

Of course, I was very sad, but I was mostly very angry. I was only 8 years old. I didn't know what to think. I didn't know who could have done such a terrible thing. When we found out that it was the Taliban, people from Afghanistan, I was wondering where the country was. I finally found it on a map. My immediate reaction was anger! I was prejudiced - I thought that everything and everyone that came from that region was bad. I realize now that you can't label an entire group or race of people as being evil. Still ... I can't help wondering where the masterminds are right now and when they will be caught. I can't wait until that day comes, because I will know that justice has finally been served.

But, amidst all of the terror, anger, and confusion on that day, I looked at the United States. It had been the terrorists' plan to make the United States fall to its knees. But, they were wrong. The United States united itself and became a stronger country. People were friendlier and more forgiving. The citizens of this country looked out for each other. It does my heart good to know that we are a great country that bands together instead of dividing and falling.

Patriotism is something that can not only be seen, but also felt. It is what drives us through the times when we think of the Twin Towers, and the terrorists. It is that rush of pride that we get when we think of our country, the most powerful country in the world, the United States of America. Patriotism is what helped us regain the power from the terrorists, power that the citizens of this country will keep forever.

God is looking out for us today, and we feel Him even stronger since September 11. We will let the terrorists know that they didn't take away the heart of America, and we will give them a long, hard message that the United States has never been more truly "united" than it is today!

Posted by
StudentWriter
on 9/11/2006
2:22 PM

9/11/2006 3:14:49 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was sitting in my second period class when all of a sudden, the librarian entered the room and said, "Turn on the T.V." Once I saw that a building in New York was hit by an airplane, I knew something was wrong.

Everyone was starting to get scared and also wondering what would happen to us. Later in the day, Flight 93 crashed only miles away from our school. I began worrying about would happen after that. The teachers always kept the T.V. on so they could stay informed of what was going on.

About 20 minutes after the crash of Flight 93, it was decided that all the students must go home just to be on the safe side. Once I got home I began to call all my friends and find out what they were going to do about it.

The very next day was my sister's birthday, it was keeping my mind off the terrorist attack for the day. Now I can still remember seeing the planes crash into the World Trade Center. I will never forget that day.

Matthew Lasure, Grade 12

9/11/2006 4:04:15 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

You did a very good job of describing patriotism. It is something that nearly every American with a heart gained from the event, and yet many people can put it into words. If you can find anything positive about September 11 at all it would be that people came to think about the country that has supported us for so long. Patriotism is one of the most important ideas one can have. Great job.

Molly Daukus

9/11/2006 4:43:44 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Firefighters are born with a sense of bravery and courage that excedes your typical everyday person. This sense of duty is what gives them the strengh to willingly dash into the burning teetering pile of twisted metal that once was the World Trade Centers. Those firefighters risked thier lives for others, and in many cases, causing the lose of their own.

Millions of Americans finally understood what Firefighters do each and everyday. They were proclaimed as heros in the eyes of all. But Firefighters were always heros, which many Americans failed to see.

Firefighters risk thier lives everyday they go to work. Many times they are so determined, so willing to do whatever it takes that they put thier own personal needs behind those of others. My father, a Berwyn Firefighter, stood outside in the below zero tempurature in order to put out the blaze before him, causing him to get severe frostbite on his fingers. So severe in fact, that he almost lost his fingers.

Their bravery didn't just begin and end on 9/11, it was, for the first time, brought into the spotlight as, I believe, it should. We should honor not just the Firefighters that risked and lost their lives on 9/11, but honor every Firefighter each and everyday. Without them millions of people would lose their lives everyday.

Firefighters represent the American courage, strengh, and heart that all Americans strive for.

Diona Metido

9/11/2006 6:55:26 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Let us never forget about the September 11, 2001 tragedy, where heroes died, just doing what they do every day. They are true patriotic heroes! Patriotism is being brave and loyal, to yourself and to those around you who represent the patriotic idol of America. You must be willing to sacrifice your life, or sacrifice everything dear to you, for the sake of others and the country that you represent. You must believe in what your country represents, have faith in God and in America, and act on your beliefs. Patriotism can be symbolized by a brave, loyal soldier who fights hard, in any sort of way, to help the residents and the people of the United States of America.

You’ve got to have more than faith and courage to be considered patriotic. You must remember what you’re fighting for... what you’re saving. To be unpatriotic means to cower under the difficult task in store for you, and run away and hope to never see the face of difficulty and danger. When you run away, you’ll never see the face of hope and justice.

All people look up to the noble heroes who fight in this war and other immense difficulties that our country faces every day, and not the people who are blinded to patriotism. This is what patriotism means to me.

Michael A. Swinehart
Suisun City

Michael Swinehart, Grade 6

9/14/2006 8:58:20 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

I will absolutely never ever forget this day. I came home from school (i was 6) the tv was o and my mom was crying. The tv showed of the world trade centers caving. I was heart boken. I am never to get on a plane again. i will hope to get the memory of the caving buildings out of my head. But, for now i am being hanted with that horrible image. i still don't understand alot cause i was 6 but what i wrote is exactly how it was.

hannah lynn

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