I was in fourth grade and I had never actually witnessed something as horrific as what happened on that day over ten years ago.

I remember how one of the teachers next to our classroom came into our room crying hysterically and was speaking in a manner that was indecipherable. My teacher had quickly noticed that this was not something us students should witness and quickly went out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. Once she closed the door we all just looked at one another like “What’s wrong with her? Why is she crying?” and a few minutes later our teacher returned to the classroom with our answer. We weren’t sure of what happened, but we knew it had to be something really bad because she was quiet for at least ten minutes before she finally spoke to us. She told us that there was an attack on the Twin Towers in the city and since many of our parents worked in that nearby vicinity that we would have to stay until our parents came to pick us up.

All I remember after that is how I saw my mom almost immediately come to pick up my brothers and I. She was crying hysterically and even though she tried to hide it we could tell she was scared. She told us that my uncle was not responding to any of her calls and since he worked in a police district nearby the towers there was a chance he was just too busy with they chaos that was going on. She sat me and my brothers down in front of the TV, so that she could make sure that everyone else she knew that worked nearby the towers was okay.

My brothers and I watched as we saw the news repeatedly showing the two planes crashing into the towers. Suddenly out of nowhere one of the building began to crumble. Level by level you could see each part of the building disappearing under a cloud of smoke and I thought to myself “Is this real? Nothing bad like this ever happens in NY,” but I was wrong. Outside from my terrace I could see the black smoke from the towers and I knew then and there that this was an event that would be remembered in America’s history for many years to come.

That smoke had brought about a union within our nation that we had not had for many years. Never before had I witnessed so many people, whether on TV or in person, come together in such a way. People that did not even know each other were hugging one another and trying to console each other. America as a nation had grown in strength because of this bombing and it was obvious that everyone wanted justice… Most especially New Yorkers.

For hours my family sat in silence waiting for my uncle to call and say that he was okay and that he had not been in one of the groups of policemen that went back seconds just before the towers came down. It wasn’t until late that night that we finally received a call from him. My mom spoke to him and when he said that he had just gotten out minutes before the collapse she thanked God.

9/11 didn’t just touch the hearts of Americans, but many other nations and for their participation in helping us during that time I must say I truly appreciate it. Although many people do not like to discuss this day because it was one of sadness and fear it is a day that we not only as a country, but as a world should look at and learn from. Every day we should appreciate the life in which we have because you never know how abruptly it will end.

We all felt the impact of 9/11 and after reading many of these articles from all around the globe I can tell that many people understand that this was not just an attack on America, but an attack on many innocent lives. These people did not deserve to die. Their deaths were brought about by a group of people that have manipulated religion to justify their MURDER of many innocent people.

We, as people, must unite against injustice and fight against any terrorist organization that condones murdering innocent people to get the type of reaction in which they want.