Post 9/11: The 1% That Keep Us Safe

   

     September 11 comes again.  For many, the sensationalism fades.  After all, thirteen years at war can do that to a country.  Keeping perspective on an old injury without marginalizing the scars seems an increasingly difficult task.  Understanding our purpose has never been tougher.  Americans have changed.
    One year after Y2K, Americans reveled in the achievements of art, science, and entertainment.  Wikipedia debuted the first open-source, online encyclopedia.  'Gladiator' claimed an Academy Award for best motion picture.  Barry Bonds broke Mark McGwire's vaunted single-season home run record with 73 home runs.  And Apple introduced the very first iPod.  For all intents and purposes, 2001 proved a vintage year for the United States of America.
     This is important to note because children entering junior high school, today, may not fully understand the twist in this story.  An entire generation of Americans have entered this world without this one vivid memory: innocent Americans jumping from twisted metal and fiery blaze, a pair of gigantic skyscrapers collapsing, an ashen cloud of debris and human life suffocating greater New York City.  America humbled, this, the memory that brings instant nausea to pre-9/11 Americans.
      Yet, from this fateful day one decade and three years ago, a special 1% of America was called upon.  They were not techies, Hollywood stars, or professional athletes.  Nor were they investment bankers or business tycoons.  America doesn't tend to call the folks with the big bucks or the big mouths when they need really dangerous problems solved.  Instead, they call the less than 1% of the American population, whose solemn oath to the U.S. Constitution, places them on Presidential speed dial to avenge such hostilities.  This brave and modest minority, our U.S. Armed Service Members.
     Regardless of your race, religion, or political affiliation, these service members stand ever-ready to deliver the knockout punch for you.  Bound by their ever-abiding sense of duty, they will stand watch tonight.  They, the providers of your common defense, will protect the 99%.
     For those being born into the post-9/11 world, we owe them our story.  America has changed... it is always changing.  Remembering those Americans who paid ultimately the price for being envied an American, we cherish what it means to be American.  Honoring our service members, our top 1%, we demonstrate appreciation for that often trivialized and yet most sacred constitutional provision, the common defense.  We owe them our eternal gratitude.  #TheReal1%