I woke up this morning and looked out the window. There was an American flag posted on my lawn. This is a nice service the Boy Scouts do for our neighborhood on holidays. But why would there be a flag on my lawn today, I thought, glancing at the calendar. September 11th.

I remember exactly where I was on that morning. We were living in Moscow, ID (Pacific Time) and Jason had left at 5 am to golf. My phone rang around six with a frantic, “Turn on your TV”, so I ran upstairs and flipped it on. I sat there dazed and glued to my television. I watched as those towers fell, one by one. I watched as our country came to the sick realization that we were under attack. Our land, our homes, our businesses and safety, violated.

How could I, in little Moscow, Idaho feel so much fear? I couldn’t bring myself to get ready for work as I sat there, staring, listening, watching. I knew Jason was only golfing, but I felt desperate for him to come home and be safe with me.

I worked at a psychology office at the time, and you won’t believe what something like this does to people with severe anxiety. I remember one lady in particular coming in. We cried together. It sounds so silly now, but the day felt so dark and the loss was so great. It wasn’t just the loss of life, it was the loss of our safety. Our beautiful country, home of the brave and the free, molested.

I have since heard miraculous stories of friends who escaped the tragedy of the Pentagon by moments, and families who still mourn the loss of their loved ones. As our nation turned to God, he heard our rusty prayers and sent miracles. But how soon we forget.

Today I honor those men and women who serve our country in this war of terrorism. I don’t care what you think about the war, I feel pride in a country willing to try and root out the evil behind these atrocious acts. I honor families who sacrifice loved ones, women like Julie Newell, with six small boys and a wonderful husband who isn’t afraid to fight for our country. Julie and Garth, you amaze me.

The war is half a world away, but there is a war. We should remember it every day. We should pray not only for the end of the war, but for victory. We must be victorious. Generations to come will be affected by the outcome of our success or failure. This isn’t about bringing our soldiers home so we’re not lonely, or bringing them home because wars hurt people, this is about securing our country a safe harbor in the terrifying seas ahead.

Until you’ve lived outside this great nation, until you’ve seen just how good we have it, you can’t fully appreciate what those men and women are sacrificing their lives to protect. They aren’t just trying to keep another 9/11 from happening, they’re ensuring that our children can fearlessly ride busses to school, teenagers can hang out at malls and mother’s can safely push their strollers around parks. Do not think for one moment that the evil behind 9/11 would spare our children. It would not.

I am humbled to be an American. With a husband who has chosen a career of service in the United States Air Force, I am honored to join the ranks of men and women who sacrifice loved ones to serve this great country. God Bless America. May that phrase echo throughout the Heavens for centuries to come.