While remembering that fateful event that literally changed the course of our world, I keep thinking of the innocence and trust that was lost as a result. We all remember what we were doing on that awful day, and also what life was like before. My husband and I were celebrating our 25th anniversary on a cruise through the Greek Islands. It was a trip of a lifetime for us. It was the first time traveling to Europe for me. Having a window seat on the KLM flight I had the perfect view. We were flying over a mountain range that seemed to reach toward the heavens, and I asked the stewardess if those were the Alps. She excused herself and said she would be right back. Upon her return she asked if my husband and I would like to visit with the pilot and co-pilot. Absolutely!

How many people get that opportunity? We were the only two people on a flight of more than 400 people to be able to go to the cockpit and visit with the captain and co-pilot and view the Alps from the pilot’s perspective. That was an event in and of itself and one that will never happen again. We flew back to the U.S. from Istanbul, Turkey on Sept. 9, 2001, only two days before 9/11, and in retrospect I found myself questioning some of the other passengers. Before 9/11, I would not have given the others a second thought; however, I found myself profiling and wondering, could they have been involved?

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, changed our country forever. Being attacked on our own soil and the loss of so many is forever going to be the event that birthed a new pride in our country and its citizens. We will never allow ourselves to be victims or fearful; instead, we have banned together united as one, stronger than ever.

God bless all the victims of 9/11 and God bless the USA.

Becky Fredrickson

Glenville