Remembering 9/11 11 Years Later

For the last 10 years I have woke up on the 11th day of September thinking about that day in 2001 while I was working for a lawn care company. I had just started up the mower and had made a few passes on the lawn when I heard that one of the towers of the World Trade Center had been hit by a commercial airliner...first thought, "what the heck, and what is the World Trade Center?" At that point I had no idea what the Twin Towers were.

It was only 7 minutes later, when the second plane hit, that I started to get the feeling something was really wrong. I believed our country was under attack. Being a soldier and having been listening in history class, I knew that life as I knew it was about to change.

That was 11 years ago today...in the last 11 years my life really has changed, as many of you know, I am a . I have served as Commander of the Northfield Veterans of Foreign Wars and was in charge of coordinating a great ceremony last year.

However, the question of the day...how do you feel 11 years later.

My feelings haven't changed, I still feel like a tragedy occurred that should continue to change the way the United States looks at the Red, White and Blue Flag that represents our freedom.

Today is a special day for me this year. This afternoon, along with men from the VFW and American Legion, I will be traveling to The VA Medical Center in Minneapolis to donate blood. I have been donating regularly for around 3 years, but have never donated on 9/11...something I will be proud of all day.

With my 31st birthday tomorrow, what better way to remember all those who died that day, and to remember all those who have paid the sacrifice protecting our freedom as Americans.

God Bless America, and God bless the United States Military.

Because freedom isn't free!

Bill Murphy

Veteran of Foreign Wars