10 Years Later..

I remember the morning of September 11, 2001 very clearly.  I was in college, living in the Pillar House.  I woke up to use the bathroom, and could hear one of my roommates' radios saying something about an attack on the US.  I thought I was in some sort of weird drowsy-state where I wasn't sure of what I was hearing.  Then Meggie yelled up the stairs, "You guys wake up!  There's been an attack in New York!"  I ran downstairs to look at the TV.  I saw one tall burning building.  It was one of the twin towers.  I watched the television in sort of a dis-belief, and then watched as the second tower collapsed to the ground.  

Later that morning, we had a devotional at the Marriot Center.  It was really good.  I don't remember what President Bateman said.  However, I do remember the sweet, tender feelings I had that morning.  I felt so sad for the families and friends that lost loved-ones.  I also felt so much pride in being an American.  

Almost a year later, I was able to visit Ground Zero while touring NYC.   My sweet friend, Anne literally walked me all over that city.  

It was pretty neat to be back East for the 10-year anniversary of 9-11.  

It was on 9-11-11, we woke up and got all ready for Church.  Shawna's ward was having Stake Conference.  After church, we came home, had some lunch and then fell asleep for a much needed nap.  

When we all woke up, we decided to go down to Valley Forge, PA.  It was a really neat place to be on September 11.  

All of the flags were like this:

Don't know why Valley Forge is significant?  Well, there were NO battles fought here.  It was during the time of the Revolutionary War, that George Washington held a military camp here.  Many, many soldiers died.  It is incredible to think of those who enlisted to fight for the founding of our country.

One cool fact?  Well, many soldiers were dying from small pox.  George Washington suffered from that illness as a child.  It was during the encampment in Valley Forge where they tried to inoculate ("vaccinate") soldiers from small pox by smearing puss from lesions on a sick soldier into cuts made onto a healthy soldier.  Guess what?  It worked and save many lives.  Pretty cool.

Here's our little family at the monument at the top of the hill in Valley Forge:

Whitney was being a doll and kept asking me to take her picture:

Our fam:

Bart and me:

 Love these two:

 Whit, Shawna & David:

A little irreverent:  We were trying to pose like the lady on the monument with her mouth wide open.  Bart said we looked so dumb.  Shawna has MacKay in her arms in this picture.  She is trying so hard to hold him up.  My thighs were killing me because I was squatting.  

Sisters:

Rows of small bunks like these were built on the grounds at Valley Forge:

Here's Whitney posing like the Statue of Liberty.  She does this all the time now:

Shawna & David inside one of the bunks:

 The calm beauty of Valley Forge cannot be captured by a camera, (at least not my camera, anyway).  It was very peaceful and I loved being there.  What a neat way to remember all those who have suffered and died for this great land.