Where were you then? ....... Where are you now?

I was at work, just like any other day, The strange stories that i heard from customers, co-workers, and finally my mom. You know, in crisis, call MOM! The things i heard were NOT adding up, did NOT make sense. it could NOT BE HAPPENING!!
Well, it did. We are not as safe as we think. We are not invincible. We are human, and frail.
In a moment, in the twinkling, our life can change. Mine did, suddenly, all my cool Army guys, were now going to war. Everyone i loved feel too far away. Everything i LOVE about the USA was even more precious.
So without going on and on and on about the terror, the horror, the moments we all remember like they were yesterday, I want to ask a Question.
Where are you now? What did you learn? What do you see 6 years later?
I see a cloudy tuesday, so unlike the one we all remember, almost seems fitting.
I see my faith as SO vey nessasry to survive in these times.
I see my freedom as precious, and not something we will always enjoy, unless we are willing to fight or it.
What about our families? Do you remember how much you just wanted to callsomeone? Hear a voice you love? Just to get a hug from your dad? Do you still feel that way? Don't you think you should?
What about how much we all wanted to help? To fill a firetruck with stuffed animals for the 911 orphans in NYC. What about the candlelight vigils on friday nights, standing on the side of the road waving flags like crazy people and singing good old fashioned USA HOOAH songs with people you have never met before. Don't you wish it lasted? Could we do it again?
What about the soldiers? Yes, i do preach alot about the soldiers, but that's because i feel it EVERY SINGLE DAY. I have more family members and close friends associated now and back when to the Military i can't even count. Now as I type, my brother prepares for his second tour in Iraq. Do you know what that does to a family?
We don't sleep well, we don't eat well, we don't overlook the latest casualties in the war. We stand very tall, we wear red white and blue on fridays, we wear yellow ribbons always. we pray constantly. for our brother, son, uncle, father, husband, for his wife and 4 children who wait bravely for his return. I wake at all hours of the night with the sudden urge PRAY! PRAY NOW! and then i lie awake and wonder... those thought we are not allowed to say out loud. it hurts ....it hurts till he is home where we can touch him and hold him, and know he is safe.
This is where i am now. I am aware of the different nation we live in, and how it is the same still in that, We get back up, we fight back, we defend our people, we are FREE. We are HERE. We are ALIVE. We are FREE.
We were free then, we are still FREE.