As I observed the moment of silence on the news this morning and witnessed the memorial services honoring the lives of all those lost 14 years ago…my heart ached. It ached for the unrealized potential of all those that died, for the families of those left behind, and for the men and women who continue to work tirelessly to keep us all safe. Such tragic loss!!

I can’t help but go back to where we were 14 years ago and realize how much it shaped our family. Our perspective was so different because we were an American military family living overseas. Watching our country be attacked from foreign soil was so surreal. We were living in Japan at the time and we would watch the Today Show at night due to the time difference. AFN only had a few channels, so every night we watched the live news broadcast so that we could keep up with what was going on in the states. We had just finished dinner and Kevin was ironing his cammies (yes, those were the days when you ironed your cammies and spit shined your boots). I will never forget Matt Lauer’s face as he said they had breaking news. As we watched the second plane fly into the building…Kevin said, “We’re under attack Corry…that was no accident.”

We spent the next few days on lockdown. We were told to stay in our homes and not allowed to leave the base. My dear friend Nalani and I were alone because our husbands had been recalled to work…Nalani had a newborn and she didn’t want to be alone, so I broke the rules and drove across the base to bring them to our house. The base was a ghost town and the humvees were rolling around on constant patrol against potential terrorists. Upon seeing the guns atop the vehicles, Grace was alarmed. How was I supposed to explain the state of the world to a three year old when I didn’t understand it myself?!?!

The weeks following 9/11 were tense for us and very somber. Several foreign nationals of middle eastern descent had been tracked to Hiroshima and then they lost them. We were constantly scared that American bases could be the next target. There were rotating schedules for all base events so that if we were being watched, there wouldn’t be a routine to follow. We were all issued gas masks. I’ll never forget standing in our living room and Kevin teaching me how to operate my mask. There was a shortage on infant/child masks, so they were given basic masks with no filters…. they provided no protection from biological/chemical warfare. How could I be safe, but not my child? There were bags to be packed in case we had to be evacuated quickly without our husbands in the event of a terrorist attack. I was yet again without words trying to explain to Grace why were were “practicing to go to Nana and Papa’s…but weren’t actually going right now”. We experienced Japanese protests where we were once again locked down with snipers placed on our roofs and in our homes so they could watch the gates. These were very scary days where we faced immense uncertainty. We leaned on each other and our faith. This Bible verse comforted me through many of those days…Phillipians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I share these stories only because they are part of our memories of this tragic day, but also as a reminder of the lives lost and those who work tirelessly to keep us safe. There are so many first responders, police officers, fire fighters, and military men and women that dedicate their lives to protecting our country at home and in foreign lands. Please take a moment to thank them today….and every day.

Blessings,
Corry