9-11, The Witch Creek Fire, and Friday Flag

This morning I woke up with a flood of memories. Eight years ago today I stood in the bathroom, pregnant and sick, getting ready for work. I turned on the radio and was confused as I heard the events unfolding before me. At that moment no one knew exactly the ramifications that would come with the events of 9-11. Year after year has passed and each time I wonder if the feelings I have on this day are anything like the feelings of those when historical events happened in the past such as Pearl Harbor. As each year passes those events and emotions tend to fade. This morning however I was reminded not only of 9-11 but of the Witch Creek Fire that happened a few years ago. I don't mean to compare the feelings from 9-11 to the fires but for me 9-11 was on the other side of the country. I didn't get the effects of smoke or of loosing family or of having family sent across the sea to fight a war that some didn't believe in and though I still have very strong feelings about that day, I don't have some of the personal feelings that some do. The fires on the other hand I do have very personal feelings about. We didn't live in North county at the time when they happened but we were close enough and for me it was extremely scary to know that danger was that close, really only a few miles away. Now having moved into North county and being just down the street from where those fires were, and listening to people who went through that tragedy increases those emotions to very personal. I'm sure your wondering as you read this what the two have to do with one another. Every Friday morning at Emma's school the school puts on a "Friday Flag". Everyone gathers together to say the Pledge of Allegiance. I think it is just one way they help the kids to understand community, patriotism, and a public spirit. This Friday just happened to land on 9-11. To commemorate this historical day, those in the know acquired 30 something flags from the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club. These flags had been used last year in the Rancho Bernardo Healing Field which paid tribute to the 1100 homes that had been burned or destroyed by the 2007 fires. The kids filed onto the black top and settled into their place with the flags at each class. I don't know if anyone else started to have a knot in their throats but I sure did. I looked out at the sea of kids surrounded by the flags, knowing that these children are our future and I prayed they would be protected growing up the way I had been. It was a small ceremony with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance being led by a soldier and father of one of the students but in those few moments I was reminded of who I am and of the liberties that are granted me because I am American. I thought of my Heavenly Father and His plan for me and who I am in His eyes, not just an American but a child of God. I'm so thankful to have had this moment to look back on these two life changing events and to think for a moment about what I'm doing to be a better American and to be a righteous daughter of God.