The events of Sept. 11, 2001 hit hard in New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. After shocks were felt not only across the United States, but around the world. The unthinkable acts of terrorism that occurred left me with feelings of shock, anger, sadness and fear. Even now, these feelings are still with me.

My morning started out as any other day being in class. After arriving to my room, I turned on the television to CNN and saw an ongoing story of how a commercial airliner had just crashed into tower one of the World Trade Center. I hoped it was just an accident. I knew something wasn’t quite right when I saw another airliner from a distance heading towards tower two. As it hit tower two, I watched in horror, knowing that this was terrorism and something wasn’t right. Seeing innocent civilians jumping out of buildings was even more disturbing to me. Seeing people run for their lives on national television as the twin towers crumbled was absolutely frightening.

The sight of those plans being flown into the twin towers and seeing them crumble before my eyes will be in my mind forever. Those who rushed to the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, sacraficing their lives just to defend the priceless gift of freedom, are true heros. The events of Sept. 11 have changed America forever, but it has brought our country together like never before. Enemies who attempt to destroy America and our way of life will realize quickly that the United States is strong. Fear isn’t a word that we use and only those who run from the United States are afraid. Freedom shall be defended no matter what our country faces. God bless America.

Matthew Kent is a Sophomore Journalism major