This isn't a normal post for me, but in light of recent events, I felt it was the right thing to do.
"Daddy, we'll have to be strong for each other." --Alex Bradshaw
I will always remember that day in September. It started like any other fall day. The sky was blue, the air was clear. The leaves were barely beginning to turn.
It was Tuesday which meant that I volunteered in my oldest son's art class while my younger son, Parker stayed at home with Mr. As I was about to leave the school office, it became clear to me that something horrible had happened. As soon as I got into the car I turned on the radio only to hear that a plane had flown into a building in NY. Once I arrived at home, Mr. and I watched the television as the second plane flew into a building. We continued to watch in shock as our toddler sat at our feet playing with legos. I kept looking at him wondering what kind of world our boys would grow up in.
My heart ached.
That night as I crawled into bed, I turned the TV on for one last update. It was then when I realized
Sandy Bradshaw, mother to Alex - a little girl in Parker's preschool class - had died on
Flight 93. Sandy was a flight attendant who flew only once a month. Like many others on this flight, she wasn't originally scheduled to be there.
My heart ached even more.
When I learned of the recent events, it brought back all of those emotions again. I imagine those who lost loved ones feel this pain every day ~ while it does get easier in time, the hurt never goes away completely. "
Never forget", I remind myself
.
Thank you to the Navy Seals and all men and women in the armed forces who put themselves in harm's way so that our lives might be better. Hopefully this will bring comfort and closure to the families who lost loved ones. As Mother's Day approaches, my heart goes out to the mothers who lost children and to the children who lost mothers on that September day -
a pain that I cannot imagine.
Parker (now 12 years old) said that I could share this poem he wrote in school last semester. His words seem to say it all.
Tribute
The sweat, the blood,
a band of brotherhood
The fighting, the tears
The death and loud cheers
To work, to train
To suffer endless pain
The families at home
Make you feel alone
The fight, the win,
To kill may be a sin
To kill the bad,
May still make you sad
The effort, the sweat,
And not much that you get
Except for the thought
For our country you fought.
For the people who serve
Who have real nerve,
This is for you
And all that you do
And you haven't a clue
Of how much we love you.
