FoWL Like Rate Add's blog: "Sad Times"

e of other planes being crashed into the Pentagon and then watching the Towers collapse one after another. The sadness in my heart, the anger and the feeling of hopelessness that day. I was working in a call center that handled over 20 thousand calls a day. After that moment we had 16 the rest of the evening. The United States took the biggest hit in the face since Pearl Harbor, more towers falling. A Cardinal moving around trying to keep people inspired in a hopeless time died from a piece of debris off one of the buildings that night. I didn't sleep, I did not eat... I simply watched the television since that was all I could do is remotely hope for lives that were lost to miraculously be saved. Few and far between but it was happening. The real heroes of any wartime event stepping up and helping those in need. Confusion, more panic and dread.

Fast forward to when I had to go to the Reserve center here in Covington for a guard detail on a building that most of the people here in town didn't even know existed... I sat there for hours thinking how life for us all in our comfortable shell had vanished. I had always felt like a circus clown while in uniform around here. People are simply not used to the sight of a soldier in uniform in this small town so far from any large installation. I finally got off and was starving, I went to Krogers to snag a quick cheap bite to eat...

I will never forget that trip to Krogers either. I was still in uniform and walked through the first door and never made it 3 foot past the second door. I was surrounded, people crying, shaking my hand, patting me on the back, asking if I knew anything about well anything... more people crying. It took me 5-10 minutes of shaking hands, telling people to keep their heads up and a spot hug here and there to grab a bite to eat. More handshakes, more positives coming out from people to me, eachother and just expressing themselves to vent frustrations. I saw what I had never really in my life saw, people agreeing on things, hope and elation coming out of truly horrible times. Krogers gave me the meal free if I remember correctly... couple 5 more minutes towards the exit and to the car in which I just sat there taking it all in for 30 more minutes. By the way that was a kickass meal.

Fast forward to the weeks and months after that day and that other day I mentioned. An American Flag was something scarce to see before but exploded. Flags everywhere... cars, houses, people wearing shirts. Massive amounts of volunteer work in NY from every state and even Canada. England playing our National Anthem to show support. 

I will never forget the events, I can reply it in my head like I was watching it live. A horrible moment in life committed by evil. A fabulous display of American courage, honor and pride in the months after. 

To the souls lost that day and the souls lost in the 11 years since fighting for our freedom... I salute you, honor you and most importantly I will never forget you.

~Jason Fowler