The anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center caused me to do some reflecting. Like when JFK was assassinated, people remember where they were when it happened. For me it was B2, middle of the period. Paul came bursting through the door, "A plane has hit one of the twin towers." At first, I didn't believe it. I thought it was a hoax. But when I realized that it was true, I wasn't really sure how to react. I knew I felt bad for the families who had lost loved ones, but I felt that as long as my family was safe, that was all that really mattered.

September 11 brought out many different emotions. As a nation we had become so immune to the violence from the media and movies, that we weren't sure how to react. It's almost like our country was numb to the suicide bombings and all the killing going on in other countries, but as soon as it happened to us, we all went into utter shock. We couldn't believe how anyone could do such an awful thing to us wonderful Americans.

Usually after a tragic event everyone feels bad at first and claims that things are going to be different; but after a while, all those claims seem to just fade away. But for me, this one took a little too long to fade away. Security went up everywhere. Instead of it taking an hour at the airport, it took four. Everyone had their American flags out rain or shine, all trying to show how "patriotic" they could be. All the flags and the slogans became very cliché.

Chambers and Orchestra had been planning to go on tour in the Czech Republic, but because of September 11, we stayed in the United States. After lots of prayer and planning, we decided to go to the East Coast, stopping in New York City along the way.

I was excited about that because I'd never been there before, and I wanted to see Time Square, Broadway, Central Park, the Empire State Building, … . When I found out we would be visiting Ground Zero I wasn't all that excited. It had been broadcast so many times that I felt pretty much numb to the whole thing.

While we were there, it really hit me hard. On the fence by a church there were pictures, flowers, candles, and possessions of those who had died. We talked to a police officer there and asked if we could sing a song. Her reply was, "I don't have a problem with it, but if my boss comes out you'll have to stop." So we sang "Freedom Is Coming." People stopped in the streets to hear us sing. I saw a couple of people crying, and I realized that not only did it affect those who had lost loved ones, but me also.

Freedom is coming not only for those who are angry about what happened or for those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but also for the person who wasn't directly affected, like me. With that freedom, everyone can have assurance that one day soon our Lord Jesus Christ will come and take us all home. On that one and only day we will truly know that freedom has come.

Susie Christenson is a senior at Great Lakes Adventist Academy in Cedar Lake, Michigan. She will receive a $100 scholarship for having her article selected for this column.