'Where were you when the world stopped turning?'

  • Published
  • By Col. John Flournoy
  • 349th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Shortly after the tragic events that unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001, singer and songwriter Alan Jackson composed a powerful song that put into words what so many of us were feeling that day.

0For me, the lyrics to "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?" will forever remind me of the myriad of emotions experienced in the hours immediately following the worst attack ever experienced on U.S. soil.

This Sunday, we pause to pay tribute to all of those who were lost and the tens of thousands that rose in service on this National Day of Service and Remembrance. I urge you, as painful as it may be, to do whatever is necessary to ensure you and your loved ones never forget.

Like millions of people around the world, I'm sure each one of you can recall exactly where you were and what you were doing the minute you were made aware of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the heroic actions taken by passengers aboard Flight 93 that tragically ended in a field in Pennsylvania. Inside each of you there is something that triggers the anger, shock, sorrow, hurt, fear, helplessness, compassion and love we all felt that day.

Throughout the history of this great nation we have experienced tragedies and challenges that have threatened the very freedoms our forefathers fought so hard to obtain. Each one sparked similar emotions we all felt on 9/11. Each one woke a sleeping giant and brought like-minded, freedom-loving people together to preserve and protect the very liberties each of us are able to enjoy this very day.

Everyday, whether on our own soil, or in places thousands of miles away from home, dedicated men and women like yourselves are putting their lives on the line to ensure those ideals that make America so great are forever preserved for those who follow in our footsteps.

What is your trigger? What is it that sparks those emotions deep inside you that drives you to fight for our freedoms?

This Sunday, when you pause to reflect and pay tribute to those who were lost on 9/11 and comfort the families who paid the ultimate sacrifice by having a loved one taken away while fighting for their fellow man, I ask you to never forget those emotions.

In the words of President John F. Kennedy, remember "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."