This was the day in recent history which finally cemented in my mind what I want to do with my life. I know I'm not the only one, but I chose the path of a firefighter. I'm currently a volunteer with the Malta, Illinois volunteer fire department. I'll later be going to classes to get my Firefigher II certificate and my EMT-B and then becoming a professional firefighter with one of the nearby cities. It'* my way of giving back for all that'* been given to me, and my personal way of honoring those who lost their lives saving others.

On a side note, we beat the terrorists in at least one way, because instead of these incidents tearing us apart like they had planned, it brought us together as a nation.

At this point, I'll post some song lyrics, because Yellowcard said it better than I could ever begin to...

Think about the love inside the strength of heart
Think about the heroes saving life in the dark
Climbing higher through the fire, time was running out
Never knowing you weren't going to be coming down alive
But you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.
Be strong. Believe.

Think about the chance I never had to say
Thank you for giving up your life that day
Never fearing, only hearing voices calling out
Let it all go, the life that you know, just to bring it down alive
And you still came back for me
You were strong and you believed

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

(Again today, we take into our hearts and minds those who perished on this site one year ago, and also those who came to toil in the rubble to bring order out of chaos, to help us make sense of our despair--Mayor Michael Bloomberg)

Wanna hold my wife when I get home
Wanna tell the kids they'll never know how much I love to see them smile
Wanna make a change or two right now
Wanna live a life like you somehow
Wanna make your sacrifice worthwhile

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Everything is gonna be alright
Be strong. Believe.

Think about the love inside the strength of heart
Think about the heroes saving life in the dark
Think about the chance I never had to say
Thank you for giving up your life that day

(The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here--Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address)

"Believe" by Yellowcard

--Christine

That'll do Christy. That'll do.

You've got every reason to be proud. You did something about it.

That was a very heartfelt post. Today has caused me to reflect on life and the things we take for granted, the things we waste time worrying about, and giving up on trivial things that don't matter.