Journal Entry 9/11/01

I wrote this in my son Tyson's journal 3 days after 9/11. I knew that this event would change things forever.


Historical Event:
Three days ago the United States of America was attacked by terrorists. On September 11,2001 at 8:46 am EST a high jacked airplane was flown into one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. About 15 minutes later another high jacked plane flew into the other World Trade Tower. 15 minutes later another high jacked plane flew into the Pentagon in Virginia. About an hour later both the towers collapsed killing hundreds of rescue workers and thousands of people left trapped in the building. Another high jacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania on its way to D.C. It is believed that the passengers on the plane jumped the hijackers and stopped them from crashing into the White House or the Capitol. It is believed that almost 6,000 people have died or are missing.

Today,September 14, 2001 is a National Day of Prayer and Mourning. Our Prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley had a memorial service in the Tabernacle. The President of the United States, George Walker Bush, held a prayer service in D.C.
The country in united in their grief and resolve to punish those who did this. It is believed that Osama Bin Ladin, a terrorist leader from Afghanistan is behind this attack.

I am horrified, saddened, and still in disbelief. I have watched the t.v. continuously for 3 days. My fear now is that war will come and that Ron will have to go. I can't imagine what war will do to our family and the world. I pray daily that God will bless us with peace and wisdom in this crisis.


I have two very profound memories from that day. I just sat in front of the t.v. all day and cried
and cried. When news reporters started speculating about what this all meant and would we go to war, they brought up the idea of initiating the draft again. I called for Ron, who was working in the office, and told him what the reporters said. I asked him if he would go and fight, to which he responded that he wouldn't wait for a draft that he would sign up voluntarily. This was before we had any intention of joining the military. I should have seen then how strongly patriotic my husband was. The idea of my husband serving in the military and fighting a war was terrifying to me, it still is. Little did I know that he would serve in a war zone twice (to date).

My other memory is of that evening. We had our two boys by then, they were 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. After they fell asleep that night I went into their room and just watched them sleep. Again, I cried and cried. I was scared for them. I didn't know how this would effect them. I didn't want them to grow up in a world full of war and terror. I didn't want their father taken from them. I didn't want them to end up fighting in a war. I looked at their precious peaceful faces and I was afraid of the kind of world that I would have to raise them in.

Now we live in a world that dramatically changed after that day. It dramatically effected my family, and it continues to effect us every day. Ron leaves again this winter to continue the Fight on Terror. And yes, it is a Fight on Terror, and I am proud of my husband for helping us win that fight. And I know we will win. And I know my boys are proud of their dad too. To quote a line from a movie "There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer." Our Armed Forces are full of volunteers who know the risk and serve willingly. I am proud and greatfull for all of them.