Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that’s real power.  ~Clint Eastwood

Respect is something earned and should be expected at the sames time.  I’ve always taught Kyle to respect others, that includes their property and how he addresses them.  Not only elders and authority figures, but also other children, pets, nature etc.  However, I have also taught Kyle that respect is a two way street.  Both parties need to walk down that street, it’s not just one sided.  As with everything I expect from Kyle,  I try to set by example.

Kyle really impresses me sometimes.  This weekend we were back at Giant Eagle and Kyle started to help bag the groceries for the cashier.  When our cashier would hand Kyle a bag of groceries to add to our cart (I Don’t Like to Push a Shopping Cart!), Kyle would look at the young man and say, “Thank you!”  He said it with such confidence and almost second nature that it really made me open my eyes. Is this my little man?  You know what?  It is!  He uses his manners, especially ‘Excuse Me’, when he passes someone or a group of people, ‘Yes Please’ when responding to a question, and naturally the ‘Thank You’.  I’m not saying Kyle’s perfect, I do have to reinforce these with him periodically, but for the most part, he is a good little man!

In remembrance of September 11th, I wanted to share a cute little story about the tomb of the unknown soldier.  For years now, since my sister moved into the D.C. Metro area, we have been going back and worth to Washington D.C. to visit her and to visit our nation’s capital.  I know I’ve mentioned with every trip to Washington D.C., we manage to discover something new to explore, not taking in all the sights at once.  On one of our trips, we toured Arlington Cemetery and witnessed the changing of the guards.  Kyle was around four or five, so he was just a little tyke.  Before we went to the tomb of the unknown soldier, we told Kyle that he needs to be quite and respectful.  I remember thinking, ‘If Kyle was disturbing the crowd, then I would take him out of the area and we would go for a walk’.  I also thought, ‘He would be so grounded for acting up in such an honorable place’.  As a family, we discussed Kyle going to the ceremony and we believed it was an experience that he should be apart of, he just needed to be taught the correct way to behave.  You know what?  Kyle was an absolute perfect angel during the entire demonstration.  He stood and watched the guards attentively.  He was such a respectful little man, who made us all proud!

In honor of those how have survived, the families of the fallen and those who have perished during the tragedies of 9/11, may peace be with you.  And to our soldiers who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom over the years, THANK YOU!  You have my utmost respect and prayers.  God Speed!

Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.  ~ President George W. Bush.

Today marks the 10th Anniversary of 911.  The entire week, leading up to today, was a lot of reminiscing, which I’ve always felt is a great way to keep those who have passed alive in our minds and our hearts.  Everyone seems to remember what they were doing when they heard the United States was under attack.  I was at Seton Hill University (was the college at the time) working on my undergrad.  Informed of the tragedy by a classmate, who was from Bangladesh, I didn’t believe one word of it until I saw the news.  I remember the conversation very clearly.  He said, in broken English, “Did you hear we are under attack from terrorists?”  My response was, “Who is under attack?”  He said, “The United States. They crashed into buildings in New York City, the Pentagon, and somewhere locally.”  In disbelief I said, “I highly doubt terrorists could get close enough to the Pentagon, maybe it was an accident?”  Well, sadly, I was wrong.  I missed the events because I was in an early class while America was blatantly being assaulted and human life was disrespected and discarded.

Seton Hill played the news all throughout the classrooms and hallways, then they promptly dismissed school.  We could have gone to the chapel to pray, however I went straight to my parents house.  You see, my family didn’t live far from Shanksville, especially my brother and my nephew who wasn’t even two months old.  I remember sitting with my mom watching the news.  While we watched the news, I said, “All those poor families. I feel so bad for them!”  My heart didn’t reach out to those who died, not that I didn’t say a prayer for them, but my sorrow rested with the survivors of the deceased.  And when I read that some people lost several family members, I thought, “How horrible!”  I couldn’t imagine losing a close family member so suddenly.

Of course, I reached out to my brother and my sister- dad was at work.  It was a little bit harder getting a hold of my sister.  At the time, she lived in Tucson, Arizona and she worked for Raytheon.  She designs surface to air missiles.  She has worked on the Stealth and who knows what other type of weaponry.  Upon that realization,  I must say, my mind switched gears and became concerned for her.  She was in complete lock down and the security was at full throttle.  I remember telling a friend that if the terrorists decide to mess with my sister, I will personally go overseas and show the terrorists you don’t mess with the Piper’s!

Kyle has asked questions about 911 but of course he doesn’t really grasp the magnitude of what happened and he never will.  I continue to try my best to explain what seemed like a recent event, now a history book entry, to him.  It’s hard to explain just pure hatred for innocent lives.

Everyone has their own tale to tell of that earth shattering day.  I read Karl Rove’s, Laura Bush’s, and George W. Bush’s accounts of 911 in their books.  Very powerful!  I remember how sad of a time it was, yet there was a sense of hope and pride.  I remember driving and really taking notice of all the American flags displayed on vehicles, houses, flying high on flag polls and along buildings.  That was a good safe feeling!  I am very proud of our country.  We are not perfect but, when it counts, we are like family standing up for one another and reaching out to help when we can.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this sadness was a prelude to what was about to happen to my family less than a month later.  That’s when I completely sympathized with the loss of the 911 families.

Student Project Portrays 9/11 Testimony of American Airlines Pilot