God Bless America

America Mourns

November 24, 1917

A bomb explodes at Milwaukee Police Headquarters killing nine officers, more than have ever died in any other law enforcement incident.......until 09.11.2001

My Generation

I am one of the youngest members of Generation X.

I was just a baby during the Camp David Accords.
I do not remember when President Reagan was shot.
The Iran Contra Hearings are a vague memory that I did not understand at the time.
I was 9 when the Challenger exploded. I was watching MTV when it happened.
I was 13 at the start of Desert Storm and no one I knew was directly involved.
I did not see how it affected me.
I was in high school when Waco happened. It seemed so far away.
I was 19 when the Murrah building was destroyed. I was shocked, but wrapped up in college life.
I was 23 during Columbine. I wondered what was happening in our schools.

Today I am 25.
I am a daughter.
I am a sister.
I am a wife.
I am a teacher.
I touch the future everyday.

For twenty-five years, I have stood with my hand on my heart and recited the Pledge and the sang the Star Spangled Banner.
For twenty-five years, I have said these words and not understood their significance.
I watch my students roll their eyes when they are required to do the same things in the morning.
September 11th, I watched the news and saw thousands of Americans die.

Today, I said the Pledge and I sang the Star Spangled Banner.
Today, I understand what those words mean.
Today, I know what it means to be an American.
Today, I cried.