[SSJunkie68-69]

The family and I attended a memorial service this morning @ 7:15. It was something very special. This is the first time we had all the kids together for something like this. They are young and were not around that day 11 years ago. We live on a farm and one of our neighbors lost one of their children in the field in PA....Todd " Let's Roll" Beamer. The weather was crisp with fog and as the sun was coming up over the field with a brillant blue black drop, you could see the tiny droplets of moisture flowing through the air. We erected a flag pole to honor the Beamer family shortly after the event and as we lowered the flap to half mast, we all sang the " Star Spangled Banner".

Afterwards, Reverend Randall spoke about the events and was able to reach out to the younger children who were not around that day and explain them to the events of the day and what it has meant since. It was very touching. As I listened to the words spoken, I realized that there is a generation of kids now that did not live through the events of that day or were too young to remember just how tragic it was. It's nice taking solace in the fact that all though they don't know the events of that day they have grown up with seeing the support for the people who protect our country, both home & abroad, and the pride that is associated with that.

Eleven years has passed but it doesn't feel like it. I still recall everything from that as they transpired just as if it was yesterday. I remember getting home that day and sitting down with my wife who was pregnant with tripletts and talking about just what happened and what type of world would we be bringing our kinds into. Both of us were kids in the 60's and remember a different atmosphere where service people were not looked upon with respect and admiration. We both knew there would be a response to this attack but we did not know what would happen afterwards. We have taught our kids the events of that day and what it meant. They know the good old US took a sucker punch that day and was able to get up and deal with it the only way it could be dealt with. I hope all post 9/11 kids are able to grasp what that day was and how it changed all our lives. Thanks to Reverend Randall for the way he spoke to the kids today.

And yes Wilmasboy..... We will never forget~