No doubt the events of September 11, changed many Americans lives. One can only imagine what it was like to live through that day in New York City; Arlington, Virginia; or on Flight 93. Aside from maybe the Challenger disaster in 1986, this is the tragedy of my generation.  This is the event that I will always remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news. 

Much like generations before me--when Kennedy was shot, or John Lennon or when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  Just as there have been tragedies since Pearl Harbor, inevitably there will be more during my lifetime, but none will be the first.

     9/11 changed me.  Suddenly, I was disenchanted,  scared.  Exactly, the intended outcome, I suspect. We are Americans.  How dare they do something like that.  How dare they kill innocent people.  I had to do something, I had to understand, What was it that I lost at 8:46am September 11, 2001.

     In the aftermath of 9/11 I found myself much more emotional during displays of patriotism.  I found my self tearing up during the singing of the National Anthem at a ball game or special event.  Even saying the Pledge of Allegiance would give me goose bumps.  Seeing a US flag waving in the wind would give me cause to think about 9/11 and what happened and how I felt.

     It was coming up on the 1st anniversary of 9/11 and people still weren’t back to normal, I needed to do something to make things better, for me.  I began thinking about what happened that day in September.  I began to think about the Gulf War and how the people Kuwait were suddenly living a life of oppression and in fear of death around every corner, from a maniacal dictator,  Who’s only hope was to depend Coalition Forces to liberate them once and for all.  I began to compare that to my Father, a soldier in the Vietnam War and the tragedy there, a country divided.  My Grandfather...those events of the past, Pearl Harbor, World War II, which had always been a page in a history book, a movie, or a story told by my grandfather.  I understood every generation has their tragedy.  9/11 was not the first time in the American experience.  It all became real, very real.  I finally understood.  Understood the sacrifice that those before me have made so that I can live the life that I live and that my generation and each generation after has to make that sacrifice to live a life of freedom as an American. 

     Since 1620, Americans have been fighting for their beliefs.  The Pilgrims left a country where they were being oppressed, to live a religious life they chose, not one imposed upon them by a King.  We overcame.  Setting the stage for the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence. 1776.  No longer would we live under the tyranny of a King, unfairly taxing us.  We were willing to fight for that right.  We Overcame.

     I needed to overcome.  I decided I needed to express my feelings.  I needed to let people now that it is going to be alright, I needed to know.  I needed to express my patriotism, my understanding of what it means to be and American to sacrifice.  I needed to overcome.

     Being a budding video editor, at the time, the best way I could think of to do that was to produce a video, a series of images that would tell everybody, tell me, that it is OK...We Shall Overcome.  So I did, and you an view that video below.  please feel fee to comment on your story, or the video.  I will never forget, I was driving to Hesperia to a school I was teaching at when I turned on the radio and heard the reporter talking as the first tower began to collapse.  I will never forget.

TTFN --Don

We Shall Overcome! September 11, 2001 By Don Fish Jr.