To My Grandchildren, 9-11

To My Grandchildren,

Ten years ago this morning Ma was leading a strategic planning retreat for the College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas at a retreat building off campus. We did not have a television and I had asked everyone attending to turn their cell phones off. The dean of the college, Reed Greenweed, was also at the retreat. About this time the public relations officer of the college rushed in the building and told us "the World Trade Center has been bombed."

We did not understand the severity of what had happened because we had been cut off from all communication. But, the urgency of information soon followed. Dean Greenwood's wife, Mary Ann Greenwood, was in the World Trade Center that morning. We got out our cell phones and he could not get through on the phone. He knew several people in New York City and he could not get any of them on the phone.

It was around 11:30 a.m. when a friend of a friend in New York City was able to get Dr. Greenwood on the phone and tell him his wife was okay. He immediately got on the phone and tried to charter a flight to New York City to get his wife. Planes were not receiving clearance to fly into or out of the city. She was able to stay with friends the night and then rented a car the next day and drove home.

Fast forward to May 2004. I received an email from Uncle Shane. I was sitting at my desk and so was surprised and happy to receive an email from him. Uncle Shane normally does not just email you out of the blue. I opened it and it said "Dear Mom, I now know what I want to do when I graduate. I am joining the Army." Oh, grandchildren, your Ma just cried. I called Granddad and told him and told him to "do something."

Granddad called Uncle Shane and told him not to sign anything until we have a family meeting. Uncle Shane came home that weekend and I guess we talked for over three hours. He said since 9-11 he had always felt like he needed to do something for his country. By the end of the meeting we were so supportive and proud of him. He felt such patriotism for our beautiful country. Ma was sad, yes, but you can be sad but proud at the same time. Uncle Shane has always been the person, whatever he was doing, that "made a difference in someone's life."

On June 3, 2004 Granddad and I drove Uncle Shane to Conway, Arkansas where he was to report for duty. The next day he left for Army Basic Training in Ft. Benning, Georgia. He later served in Iraq and then Afghanistan.

So many families lost loved ones on 9-11. But, 9-11 impacted everyone, not just families and friends. There are so many people that have their 9-11 stories. Would Uncle Shane have joined the Army to help his country if 9-11 had not happened? I don't know but I don't think he would have. I'll never know.

Grandchildren, your country bonded and came together. We will never be the same. My family will not and your family will not.

I love you and the United States of America, Ma.