the 11th day of the month.

Yesterday was the 11th day of the month. The 11th day of September.

I remember that day 11 years ago like time never passed. My mom was driving my sister and I to my first day of 6th grade and we were listening to the morning news on the radio. All of the sudden we heard breaking news and my mom's phone began ringing off the hook. "Breaking news!! The towers are falling!! Oh my God!!" I had no idea what that could mean, especially as an 11 year old. I only knew that we were being attacked, and that was not a good thing.

I learned of the event during school that day. It touched all of our hearts, even from the other side of the country. We said prayers for the police officers, firefighters, those who lost their lives, and their loved ones. Looking back, I remember that day perfectly. And I will not forget it.

I found the perfect quote explaining who we are as a country and how far we have come since conception. Proudly stated by British Prime Minister Tony Blair: 

"America has its faults as a society, as we have ours. 

But I think of the Union of America born out of the defeat of slavery.

I think of its Constitution, with its inalienable rights granted to every citizen still a model for the world.

I think of a black man, born into poverty, who became chief of their armed forced and is now secretary of state Colin Powell and I wonder frankly whether such a thing could have happened here.

I think of the Statue of Liberty and how many refugees, migrants, and the impoverished passed its light and felt that if not for them, for their children, a new world could indeed be theirs.

I think of a country where people who do well, don't have questions asked about their accent, their class, their beginnings but have admiration for what they have done and the success they've achieved.

I think of those New Yorkers I met, still in shock, but resolute; the fire fighters and police, mourning their comrades but still head held high."

This is us; we are America. We are strong, we stick together, and we don't give up on each other and on any task. Let us not forget who we are as a country. And let us not forget how far we have come since 1776.