In the days that followed, stories of incredible courage flooded the news, and we were reminded that no matter how terrorists from distant countries attacked us, this country would rise up together, rebuild and life would go on.
Personally, I remember standing on my high school football field before the game on Friday after 9/11 holding candles with my friends and listening to the words of our national anthem like I'd never heard them before. It was a moving experience, and I remember a deep sense of patriotism and appreciation for the personal sacrifices that built this country into a great nation.
Yesterday, 10 years later, I found myself filled with that same sense of patriotism and appreciation at another football field - Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. It was my first NFL game and the game itself was really fun to watch. But before the game began, the NFL honored the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 by broadcasting the national anthem from Chicago to all of the other NFL stadiums with games about to begin, while unfurling a flag that covered the entire field.
A lot has changed in 10 years - finished high school, went to college, got a job, got engaged, got a different job, moved home, bought a condo, got married - but I felt as moved by that flag and that anthem yesterday as I had ten years earlier.P.S. The Bears looked pretty darn good yesterday. What a pleasant surprise :)
4 comments:
Did you have fun at the game? So cool! My first NFL game was very cold, snowy, wet, and rainy.. brrrrr
a lot has changed but it is indeed good to remember and reflect! thanks for posting this!
thank you for posting! i also spent much of this past sept. 11th reflecting on all that has changed - and all we have to be grateful for!
really cool post, Ash. love ya, can't wait to see you sooooon!! :)
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