Most conversations between friends today as well as nearly all newscasts on TV and radio mentioned something in regards to the September 11th attacks, 8 years ago today. I’m sure everybody remembers where they were when they heard the horrific news, just the same as our parents can recall where they were when they heard that JFK was assassinated or our grandparents, when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

I remember waking up to a phone call from my father, it was my day off and I was planning on enjoying the act of sleeping in. Needless to say, after that call, I was glued to the TV. You see, the phone call came just prior to the second plane crashing into the twin towers. I reached for the remote control and turned on the TV just as the reports and videos of the second plane hitting the tower came on. Fast forwarding a few hours; I continued to try and take everything in and another call came in. At the time, I was less than a year into my job as a security officer, assigned to a high profile client/company at O’Hare International Airport. My supervisor was calling in an attempt to round up as many officers as possible to come in to work OT, because nobody knew if or when another attack would take place. Reluctantly, I agreed to work.

I was posted on the tarmac, to this day THE most eerie sight and feelings I have every encountered. Assigned to watching the busiest airport in the world, at a complete standstill, save for the F-16s flying patrol routes overheard. As cliche as it seems,the silence truly was deafening. Thousands of people dead between New York, Washington DC and rural Pennsylvania. I stood my post, all the while wondering what was next. Thankfully, nothing else happened that day and I spent the time reflecting and praying. 10 hours, felt like 10 years, constantly looking over my shoulder or to the skies, occasionally chatting with the police and my superiors, few details were coming in so soon after the tragedies.

8 years later, the memories of that day, are as if they happened yesterday. The retrospectives on TV haven’t lost an ounce of sting, I don’t feel any less sorrow or sadness for everyone directly connected and affected, if anything, at times I feel more sadness. I often think what Chicago would be like without the Sears Tower standing over us. This morning all over the country were moments of silence and remembrance. Five, ten, fifty years from now, the hurt will remain. We will never forget that fateful day. But, like the United States we are, we stand defiant against the terrorism. Humanity, in one form or another, in some peoples eyes, may be dead, but the heartbeat of a strong nation beats healthier than ever before. We stand victorious as evil failed to gain the upper hand. We proved that when we all stand together against a common enemy, nothing can knock down the American Spirit.

My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every member of every military outfit still abroad fighting this war. May you all come home soon to your family and friends. Know that the jobs you are doing, makes everyday brighter, and everyday gone by makes us stronger still.