September 11, 2001 is a day that rocked the country and undeniably changed the comfort level of the security of most Americans.
What many Americans forget, is that less than a year before, on Oct. 13, 2000, the United States suffered its first real terrorist attack of the millennium.
I was there.
The USS Cole, a fast attack destroyer deployed to the Persian Gulf, took a shot to the gut as the American vessel was conducting replenishments in Aden, Yemen.
A small fishing boat, loaded with explosives, rammed the side of her hull.
A destructive blaze ensued, claiming the lives of 17 sailors, most of them no older than 25.
The Al-Qaeda Network took responsibility for this heinous act, promising to repeat a terrorist attack on the United States annually.
I was part of a search and rescue team that led a quick response to the injured ship.
We had the solemn duty of setting up a security and Flood & Fire Watch.
The USS Cole was shredded up and across its port (left) side, taking out most of the galley and part of an auxiliary room.
As we boarded the vessel, the heat of the sun and the chill of death caused me to sober my thoughts; up to this point everything that I had ever done in the U.S. Navy was just training for events such as these.
This was detrimental.
For the better part of four weeks, I spent my days and nights on small boats and flight decks.
Sometimes I was inside of an unlit compartment, knee deep in water, coping with the smell of those who had passed on.
Other times, I baked in the Arabian heat and tried my best to help the survivors cope with the surreal events of the past month.
There had never been a more pivotal moment in my life, let alone my career, that forced me to take account of my own purpose and worth.
As Winston-Salem State commenced its fall break (which happened to coincide with the government-observed holiday Columbus Day), students and faculty got a chance to take a breath and relax from their normal routine.
Meanwhile, Naval Station Norfolk, USS Cole’s home port, commemorated Oct. 10, 2010 as the 10-year anniversary of the attack on the destroyer.
Although the validity of Columbus Day is arguable, the heroism of those sailors and their sacrifices to the United States are not.
As time moves on and WSSU approaches another year, take time out in 2011 to celebrate the freedoms that you have by remembering the fallen service members on that fateful day.
Instead of focusing on a day littered with controversy, take advantage of your leisure and say a prayer for the families of the lost.