Sun shining on a beautiful day, sitting at my desk, eyes glued to a computer screen; just an ordinary day. That’s how it started anyway. At about 8:50, one of the engineers who has a TV in his office, yelled out to us that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I stood there watching and thinking “what a tragic accident”. Then-the second plane and I know that our lives were forever changed. Right then all I wanted was to be with my son who was in daycare at the time. I just wanted my family. Then the Pentagon, then the plane in PA (my home state) and I thought “this is it”, this is the beginning. The beginning of something so grim and terrible. Something that I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Work closed for the day. I went home with my son. Watching the news 24/7. Fear of not knowing what was next. My family has become the single most important thing in my life, I cherish every moment. Somehow, life has managed to go on. Americans rallied together and made it clear that you cannot kill the “American Spirit”, the patriotism and loyalty that we all feel. I did not know any of the victims or families of victims, but my heart goes out to them. UNITED WE STAND!