i was 6 years old when 9/11 happened. I remember where i was because in school, we always knew when we would have half days, etc. This day was different. It was early morning and I was in kindergarten. Events unfolded without us young kids knowing. Teachers knew, but we didn’t know. But as kids, you sense when something is not right. Teachers and staff were contacting parents and guardians to come pick their kids up from school and take them home. Chicago, my hometown, was a target as well. The entire downtown and surrounding areas to get in the city were being cut off and evacuated. Once i got home, i ran into the sun room, my mom was home. she worked downtown. I knew something was going on…my mom was home and she always worked until the late afternoon. I see her watching the news unfold on the tv. I asked her what happened, and she said bad people were attacking us. Something along those lines. I don’t remember the rest of that day. I enlisted in the Army when i was 20 years old. i’m 23 now and i deployed to Iraq in 2017. I am proud to defend my country and the day of 9/11 is always etched in my heart and it effects me everyday.