I will never forget that day.

Hubby, who was previously Boyfriend, called my apartment early in the morning.

Hubby: SM, wake up.

SM: What’s going on?

Hubby: We’ve been attacked. I have to go into work early today. Our city is on high alert.

SM: What do you mean??!!

Hubby: Go turn on your TV.

And on it went.

I woke up my roommate and we sat in front of our television, jaw touching the ground. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! After sitting, paralyzed, for far too long, both my roommate and I realized that we needed to get to work. The students would be waiting.

So off we headed, me in my Ford Ranger, listening to Peter Jenning’s play by play account of what was happening. When the second plane flew into the tower, he paused, visibly upset.

I cried.

I listened as the second tower fell down. I parked my car in the lot and ran into our staff room and sat down in front of the TV with many other teachers.

We all cried.

How were we to teach our children? What were we to say? We had to be strong and assure them they we are safe. That school was safe.

When school started I learned that my student’s dad was in Pennsylvania and unreachable. My student was a wreck.

We talked, I told them this was a scary day and one that they would remember for the rest of their lives. I told them that they were safe. They asked questions, a lot of questions. I couldn’t answer most of them.

Days passed and my class was unsettled. They wanted to do something. Anything to help.

We brainstormed ideas, and one child said that he wanted to raise money to give to the Red Cross. So we organized fliers and put together many donation bins.

Kids from our school went door to door asking for help and organized car washes. When all was said and done we collected thousands of dollars and were featured on our local news station.

It was a great experience!

My students needed to help, and they did.

It turned out that the dad of my student was safe, and waiting in Pennsylvania for the earliest flight back to California.

For months I proudly displayed an American flag on my back window, cried when I heard accounts of the day, and felt pride in my heart for all those heroes who helped sort through the wreckage.

To this day, I well up with tears every single time I think of the damage caused and fear felt by this terrible tragedy.

I will never forget and will always be proud to live in this country.

The men and women who serve our country are and forever my heroes.

To those of you in law enforcement. I am so proud to know you and be part of your family.

To firefighters who risk your lives every day, thank you.

And our military men and women. You have the hardest job around.

I will never forget what you do for me every single day.