I had the honor af attending a 9/11 Memorial on Camp Eggers in Kabul Afgvhansitan -- my fourth year in-country.
Reflection is good.
While the target was America (some say the military symbol was attacked and some say the symbol of capitalism was targeted. We may never know the ultimate target of the fourth plane that was presumably downed by the bravest of them all – while it came to earth in a Pennsylvania field, conjecture has its ultimate impact point as the second manned bomb against the Pentagon). Whatever the symbol, the actual damage was in the $1,000,000,000's and 2,974 lives.
My reflection is from the perspective of those others who took action against the attack(s) or aided those living victims of it. Let's remember the countless police who rushed to the sound of fury never to be heard from again; the fireman who died climbing the stairs to the level of exhaustion that others may live; the military members who rushed into the flames to pull comrades from a fiery death some succumbing in their efforts; the strangers who helped other strangers through the dust and smoke, away from terror and death.
In light of this being an international forum, let's also remember that among the near-3,000 deaths were hundreds of victims from 90 nations – not all victims were Americans.
But ultimately there were global victims and global impacts.
Craig Balzer
27+ Years US Army
LTC (R)
US Defense Contractor - Kabul, Afghanistan