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Just like 911, I will forever remember what happened when I heard the news....This time, I'm getting involved and I'm going to embrace it for what it really means to me......
What could I do to show how proud I am of my country and the fact that Osama Bin Laden has finally met his maker. I was watching Real Housewives of Orange County - "Watch what happens" - with my wife that night and the host, Andy, paused during a live interview with one of the ladies and said "ah, apparently Osama Bin Laden is dead". Me and my wife looked at each other and simultaneously ran for the TV remote to flip it to a major news network. Sure enough, at almost 11pm, we soon found out that Barrack Obama, the President of the United States, was going to address the country and the rest of the world to inform us all that we finally killed Osama.
A newscaster on CNN was standing on the White House east lawn briefing everyone watching on the details as they were released and you saw some people in the background leaning against the White House fencing. He reported "As you can see just a few people 15-20 or so, most likely tourists are standing here behind me visiting, even at this late hour." Not more than 20 minutes later, the entire street was filled with people singing and waving flags chanting USA USA. It almost made a grown man cry. I wanted to get in my car and celebrate myself - if it wasn't for my 3 children sound asleep - I would have.
It doesn't matter who you are, where you are from....You can't help but feel a sense of relief, and moreover a sense of PRIDE that our country exacted justice for the mass murderer of thousands of innocent people.
This sense of Freedom, however comes at an ultimate price. A price that few extra-ordinarily brave Americans pay, so that the rest of us can go about our lives without worry. A lifetyle that we all to often take for granted. I want to thank all past and present American service men and women, thier families and loved ones for protecting the United States of America and also for protecting my family's freedom to live as Americans.
I focused my feelings that night into a T shirt of all things that represented the whirlwind of thoughts running through my head. Come to find out, Americans are everywhere! I would invite you to wear one of my Tee's at the grocery store, gas station or perhaps even at work. You'd be extremely surprised at the response you get from those who see it. Ther is a sense of pride spreading throughout our country right now, I hope it sticks around for a little while......