Ten Years

It's hard to believe that it's already been a decade since the attacks on the World Trade Center. I know I'm incredibly fortunate to not have lost anyone close to me in the attacks, but I felt very removed from the entire experience the rest of the country seemed to be experiencing.

People always say you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news, and it goes for me too. I was in tenth grade sitting in my technical drafting class and Mr. Olson had the TV on as usual. We all looked up at the TV and saw the plumes of smoke and I remember Mr. Olson singling me out and saying, "That looks like a pretty big deal, right, Heather?" I was pretty much a mute in that class because Mr. Olson always twisted whatever I said into some kind of sexist lesson to the otherwise male class, so I just nodded my head and went back to work.


I had never heard of the World Trade Center, didn't know anyone in New York, and didn't take it as a given that an attack by a few terrorists that horrifically killed 3,000 people would go on to kill over a million more people in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next decade. Say what you will about bringing the country together, but I'm disappointed with the way our country handled the aftermath of the attack. 


I hope that if there is ever another senseless act of violence like what we experienced ten years ago, our leaders will have the wisdom to weigh the costs of blood and treasure when we plan our military response. This war has taken loved ones from families and ruined our international financial standing. For me, being a nation at war hits home because my husband serves in the military. For most, the idea of being at war crosses their minds a few times a month when video from a faraway desert crosses the news channels. I hope that this ten-year milestone not only has people remembering those who died in the attacks, but also those who serve in combat zones at this very minute.