I take off my shoulder holster and hang it on a nail on my desk in my tent in the western Afghan town of Shindand to write these thoughts down. AFN is broadcasting the ten year anniversary memorial services at ground zero in New York. They raised the original ground zero World Trade Center flag as children that were merely infants at the time of 9/11 events, sang the national anthem. Moments of silence were observed at the exact times of the plane crashes and the collapses of the buildings. The President, our first black president, reads Psalms 46. The names of all the victims are announced.
I remember where I was 10 years ago. I had just finished one of the morning classes in Kirksville and headed into the lounge. About 10 other medical students were fixated on the TV as the news was replayed over and over again of the first plane hitting the first tower. Then we watched in horror as on live TV a second plane flew in from the right of the screen and plunged into the second tower. I knew on that day, as did the 20 or so other HPSP scholarship medical students, that our lives had suddenly taken a huge turn. I had a feeling at that time that I would be sitting in a place like this doing what I am doing.
All around the world people are commemorating today in their own various ways. In Kabul today they are having a large ceremony and raising the flags of over 30 different coalition countries that are militarily invested in this War On Terror. And they are doing this the very next morning after being hit with a car bomb that injured 77American troops. Here at Shindand, there is a 24 hour ruck march of remembrance during which soldiers from midnight of September 11th to midnight of September 12th will take shifts carrying the American flag around our flight line. Each person on the FOB remembers in his or her own way the events of 9/11. Some people seem calloused, while others are a very emotional. All of our lives collectively were changed on that September morning, resulting in all of us being here now.
I remember how angry I felt at the time. The thought that people would kill innocent people in the name of Allah seemed unthinkable. But now, the head of those responsible for the tragedy, Osama bin Laden, was killed by Navy SEALs, shot once in the head and twice in the chest. He has now faced the final judgment of God. And now the 3 other top Al Qaida leaders were captured. We are a strong nation.
But despite the patriotism, I cannot escape the chilling words of our Savior Jesus Christ, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard….” When we say we will never forget, let’s never forget the important things, the things that are eternal.
I remember where I was 10 years ago. I had just finished one of the morning classes in Kirksville and headed into the lounge. About 10 other medical students were fixated on the TV as the news was replayed over and over again of the first plane hitting the first tower. Then we watched in horror as on live TV a second plane flew in from the right of the screen and plunged into the second tower. I knew on that day, as did the 20 or so other HPSP scholarship medical students, that our lives had suddenly taken a huge turn. I had a feeling at that time that I would be sitting in a place like this doing what I am doing.
All around the world people are commemorating today in their own various ways. In Kabul today they are having a large ceremony and raising the flags of over 30 different coalition countries that are militarily invested in this War On Terror. And they are doing this the very next morning after being hit with a car bomb that injured 77American troops. Here at Shindand, there is a 24 hour ruck march of remembrance during which soldiers from midnight of September 11th to midnight of September 12th will take shifts carrying the American flag around our flight line. Each person on the FOB remembers in his or her own way the events of 9/11. Some people seem calloused, while others are a very emotional. All of our lives collectively were changed on that September morning, resulting in all of us being here now.
I remember how angry I felt at the time. The thought that people would kill innocent people in the name of Allah seemed unthinkable. But now, the head of those responsible for the tragedy, Osama bin Laden, was killed by Navy SEALs, shot once in the head and twice in the chest. He has now faced the final judgment of God. And now the 3 other top Al Qaida leaders were captured. We are a strong nation.
But despite the patriotism, I cannot escape the chilling words of our Savior Jesus Christ, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard….” When we say we will never forget, let’s never forget the important things, the things that are eternal.
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