Fast forward a couple of years. My brother is in college at Virginia Tech and gets recruited by the US Navy to be a Nuclear Chemical Engineer. He got commissioned in 2005 as an officer and proceeded to do 3 deployments in his 5 years of sea duty. Last fall, he transferred to San Diego for a 2-year shore tour, where we thought the deployments were over. Until we found out that he had been selected for a different kind of deployment. One where he would be supporting the Army in the war overseas. One that would require him to go to Afghanistan. On the ground. For 260 days. He left Friday, June 25, 2011. He will be there when the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 comes and goes. Before he left he called me to say goodbye and I thought, there are so many people that have had to do this over the last 10 years. Say goodbye, be careful, see you in 9 months. Mothers. Fathers. Sisters. Brothers. Wives. Husbands. Children. And it all started on that fateful day in September almost 10 years ago. I pray that September 11, 2011 brings with it a sense of patriotism and unity, like 9/11/01 did. I pray that all those who were affected that day, and since, continue to find peace, healing, and understanding as time goes on.