This is the picture that was shown the the class. This is the remnants of the Twin Towers.

Have we forgotten that dark day seven years ago? Have we forgotten already?

Today, I went to school expecting to pledge allegiance to the flag or have a moment of silence in the victims of September 11th honor. I sat through first, second, third, fourth, and fifth period and still we had not even recognized it was the anniversaries of one of America's darkest days. I sat through sixth, seventh, and still no recognition.

By this time I couldn't handle it any more. It was my JROTC class and we WERE going to recognize 9/11. I asked my teacher if we were. He said he hadn't planned to. I said, "Well, I'm doing a speech, give me five minutes to prepare."

I dashed to the computer, got the facts and slapped some pictures together. There was no way I was going to let this day be forgotten. I know I was preaching to a class full of closed ears. But if I had one person listening to me, it made the speech worthwhile for me.

After my 15-20 minute speech about 9/11, I asked my class several questions. "How many here know what we're fighting for today?" A few students said their answers and one student said "I don't know." I said, "We fight for what you just saw. We fight for this." I pointed to the board that showed a picture of ground zero today. (I've posted it with this blog.) "We fight so that this won't happen again!" I continued, "There was a debate on last night where one woman said that we, America, spend 3.8 million dollars a day for the war. Is it worth it?" I got a lot of no's and a few yes's. I said, "Yes it's worth it! Do we want history to repeat itself? Do we want this nation to fall? Do we want to teach those guys a lesson? Do we want to win? Do we want to fight?"

I looked around at their faces. I could almost see the thoughts swirling. And I asked myself, "Have we forgotten?" I thought back to a Country song called "Have you forgotten?" I thought of how appropriate that song would be today. "Have you forgotten when those towers fell? There were people still inside, going through a living Hell." I think we have forgotten. We forgotten the close to 3,000 lives snatched away from their friends and families. I don't think the families have forgotten. The children haven't forgotten their lost Mommies and Daddies. The Mothers and Fathers haven't forgotten their son and daughters.

We have forgotten our heroes! What about all of our troops still fighting in Iraq today? Have we forgotten them? I have an uncle over there today, have I forgotten him? No!

We, as America, and especially America's youth needs to wake up to the world around them. Wake up young people. Open your eyes. And remember that day! Remember those people who were jumping out of buildings, running for their lives, and the firefighters, policemen, soldiers running in to save the people inside.

I want to thank the troops today for what they are doing, keeping America safe. Keeping America "The Land of the Free." Thank you to all the firefighters and policemen and doctors who keep us safe at home. Pray for our troops today and pray for the families of the forgotten. Let us remember.

Now ask yourself, Have you forgotten?

I would like to really know what you think about this. Please comment. If you don't have a username for the site yet, just scroll to the top of the page and click "Register." Thank you so much for reading. People stop me all the time and tell me that I've done a good job and I'm always amazed that people actually read my writing. Thank you all so much and may God smile upon you everyday!

God Bless,

Dustin Hood