“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” -President John F. Kennedy.

9.11.11:

Lauren Gibbemeyer

(Professional Volleyball Player)

I was sitting in my 8th grade social studies class when a teacher from a different class came bursting into our room and told us to turn on the TV ASAP. With everyone’s eyes glued to the news, we watched the horrific replay of the first building getting hit. Just moments later, we witnessed the second plane crash into the side of the other building. I remember feeling very scared and confused as to what was going on and why it was happening. As a young kid, it was hard to process how something like this could happen in our country and how fragile life truly is.

After the initial shock and fear, I remember the sadness after hearing stories of those who had lost a loved one in the attacks. Despite this terrible tragedy, it was inspiring and hopeful to witness our country respond in a unifying way.

Cynthia Barboza

(Professional Volleyball Player)

I remember it was my first week of high school. I was sitting down to have breakfast and it showed up on the news. I was in confused disbelief and I just sat there staring at the TV…It’s pretty insane to think about how this world has changed since 9/11 – some could argue for the better or the worse. For a lot of people it’s still a sad memory, but it taught us what it means to be resilient, and a lot of selfless people found out that there was a little hero inside of them. Tragedy has a way of revealing people’s true colors in the chaos, and I think we all learned that the American people are brave, compassionate, and unbreakable in their spirit and hope for a better tomorrow.

The men and women who risked their lives to try to save total strangers are an inspiration – we could all take a lesson from those incredible individuals. Caring for others is one of the most beautiful parts of the human experience – when I think about the way we picked ourselves and eachother up after 9/11 i’m amazed at the beautiful, selfless humanity. It’s just a shame that it took so much destruction to remind us that caring for others is what life is all about.

Casey Patterson

(Professional Beach & Indoor Player)

I actually returned home from serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints in LIttle Rock Arkansas 2 days before it happened. I was in Provo Utah getting ready to go play at BYU. It was such a terrible time. I was trying to get adjusted to being home and training so I would be ready to play ball. For 2 years I was teaching about Jesus Christ and how Families are the most important thing we have on earth. When 9/11 hit I was devistated and heart broken for all of the Fathers, Mothers, Sons and Duaghters who were either in the buildings or had loved ones killed. I was again reminded at how fragile life is and how Family should always be our number one priority.

Cindy Nyhoff

(Team Liaison at USA Volleyball)

On the morning of September 11, 2001 I was at our home in Fountain, CO, which is just south of Colorado Springs. My mother, who lives in Michigan, called me around 7:30MT and told me something terrible is happening in New York City and that I need to turn my television on. I remember the images on that television and sitting on the edge of the chair with such a horrified feeling. It seemed to be happening so fast. I distinctly remember watching the anchor man talking with the image of a burning tower behind him and seeing the building begin to sink. It appeared to be melting. A fraction of a second later the word was out that the tower was collapsing. Over the next few hours my sitting on the edge of the seat evolved to sinking deep into the chair with tears in my eyes and anger in my heart as I watched my fellow American’s scramble away from a dust cloud of destruction. Such a feeling of helplessness and shock. What could I do for them?

Before long I got a call from a friend who was working on Fort Carson and she nor her husband could not get off because all gates were closed, they were on high alert. Fountain, CO is also the home of many soldiers who are stationed at the army base a few miles away. She was in a state of panic and was very worried about her children at the school. I told her I would pick them up and take care of them. She distinctly knew faster than I did what this meant for her and her family and the many soldiers on base. In fact, when I arrived at the school things did not feel “normal”. This is a school in which more than 60% have a parent in the military. People were moving much quicker than usual and there was stress written all over their faces. Listening to the children in the car was also a glimpse into their military life. They were guessing that the President would fly to Colorado Springs to get to the Mountain (NORAD) and they were concerned that whoever was attacking us in New York and DC would follow him here. They also knew there was a safe house in Nebraska and discussed the possibility of him going there. It was such an odd conversation to hear from a group of middle school children. Our children told us that the teachers were ordered not to discuss what was happening, but how could they not. One teacher turned on the television in her room and told the children you will remember this day for the rest of your lives. That was a wise teacher.

September 11, 2001, my Dad said reminded him of Pearl Harbor and how he can remember exactly what he was doing when he heard the news of the attack. The best part of that day was hearing the heroics of the passengers of Flight 93. They are an inspiration and a loud and direct message to the rest of us. Ordinary people can make a difference and should.

Russ Marchewka

(Professional Beach Player)

I had just finished moving into my very first apartment. I still had a lot of things in boxes and the cable hadn’t been hooked up yet. I saw a broken story on my 13 inch tv about some kind of bomb going off in New York City.

I had to go to work so even though I was intrigued, I left in my car for the restaurant I worked at. At 19, I wasn’t familiar with NPR, so the news I got about the terrorist attacks came in all day from the customers buying food. By the end of my shift, I was horrified when I was able to piece together everything that happened. I went home, sank down in my chair and felt helpless. When you’re 19, just got your first apartment, your first true sense of freedom and then have it ripped away in one day, it’s pretty tough.

I don’t support half the things our country does, but I appreciate that I live in a country where I can express those views. No, we’ll never forget, but I sincerely hope that we will learn from the past and take the American spirit to make the world a better place.

Bryn Kehoe

(Professional Volleyball Player)

I was at my high school in Cincinnati, St. Ursula Academy. We were in the middle of Latin class when it happened. It didn’t seem real as our principal came over the loud speaker and informed us that a great tragedy was taking place. Every classroom plugged in a television as we all watched the news in disbelief. What did it mean? Why was this happening? I found myself with a million questions and not a single answer, let alone a comforting one. It was truly an eye opening experience…

Since 9/11 so many things have changed and I find that even through all of the heartache and pain America continues to be the most accepting and progressive nation in the world. And I’m proud to be a part of it!

Dennis Del Valle

(Professional Volleyball Player)

All I remember was me being in the 6th grade back in Puerto Rico and I remember not knowing how big of deal it was. Looking back our country was really concerned and worried. I was scared and praying that my dad was alive because he lives in NYC.

Becky Perry

(Professional Volleyball Player)

I was in my English class in 8th grade. The PA came on and the principle had announced what had happened. Everyone took a moment of silence and then we all turned our TVs to the local news channels. I have never seen such disaster and sadness but in the midst of all of that I saw what being an American really is. People helping each other in times of struggle, no questions asked. That’s why we’re all such proud people. We drop everything to help each other because we’re one nation. We did the same thing with Hurricane Katrina. God Bless America.

Casey Jennings

(Professional Beach Player)

I was At my in laws house sleeping and saw it on tv . I couldn’t believe it. Someone could be so cold blooded. I was angry, sad and confused at all of the madness. My message would be the same message that NYC responded with: We are here we are not going anywhere and this will make our nation stronger. We will rebuild from the ground up.

I love America.I’m proud to be an American everyday of my life!

Geena Urango

(Professional Beach Player)

I remember the morning of 9/11 like it was yesterday. I was getting ready for school and my dad had just left for work. He comes running back in the house 2 minutes later and turns on the TV after hearing about what had happened on the radio. I watched in confusion.

I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t understand why they did what they did. So many thoughts were running through my head, but most importantly, I thought about all the people affected by this. I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years since this incident, but we still use this day as a way to come together as a nation and take a moment to remember those who lost their lives in this tragedy. United we stand, and united we will stand.

Jeremy Roueche

(Professional DJ)

I was home in Los Angeles when my mom called around 6:30am. I knew something was wrong if my mother was calling me that early. I immediately turned on the TV and was glued to it for hours. After I learned about the pentagon, I called family and friends in that area, as I grew up 20 minutes outside of Washington D.C., just to make sure everyone I knew was okay.

As I’m sure a lot of others went through, I was in disbelief, shock and then angry, sad, horrified and confused about why this happened. My heart went out, and still does go out, to all the people who lost family and friends that day. I will never forget.

Nicole Davis

(Professional Volleyball Player)

I was in my first spring semester at USC on 9/11. I was living in downtown LA, and was up early for weights. I remember turning on the news and seeing the footage of the first plane striking one of the twin towers. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening. The thought of terrorism on our own soil wasn’t real to me yet. Then I remember listening to the radio station as we were lifting, and the concept that we were being attacked, finally wrapped itself around my head. LAX shut down, campus closed, and for me, there was never a more eery sound then silence in the skies of LA.

I’ve been traveling all over the world for the last 8 years. There are so many wonderful places to see and visit, but there is NO other place like the USA! I am so proud to be an American, and for what we represent!

Chris Jackson

(Technical Coordinator at USA Volleyball)

I was in Arizona, I woke up for school and like I always do I flipped on the TV to turn it to ESPN and it was on CNN and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I stood there in shock, I was sick to my stomach and couldn’t believe my eyes. It will be a morning I will never forget for as long as I live. What I saw in the hours and days that followed gave me hope and understanding of who we are as a nation. We are a nation of heroes, plain and ordinary men doing extraordinary things to help unite a nation. My heart goes out for all those that lost a love one because of those acts on that day.

Donald Suxho

(Professional Volleyball Player)

Morning of September 11, i was making breakfast for my son Shane, then 8months. It was a beautiful morning in Hermosa beach and then as i went out in the balcony, saw a bunch of military helicopters, circling around the area. I thought it might be an army drill, but then more police cars, helicopters, started flying and driving all around the area. I turned the tv on, and i was frozen, completely shocked seeing the twin tours falling.

It was a very strange moment, i felt sad, angry, confused and truly angry at how merciless these people were, to simply kill so many innocent people. I was glued to the TV for the whole day, watching and hearing all the terrible news. As the day went on, i saw and experienced an amazing feeling, the unity of all Americans. From sad and angry, i became energized and willing to do anything to help. It was an incredible transformation of my feelings and myself in one day, will never forget it.

Ryan Ratelle

(Professional Beach Player)

It was my first week of high school and I was getting ready for school in the morning and remember my mom calling me into her room where she had the news on. The first plane had just run into the first tower and my whole family was standing around the TV in shock as we watched the building start to collapse. Then the second plane hit the other tower. I was in total disbelief. I didn’t think anything of that magnitude would ever happen in the US. It made me feel extremely unsafe and angry. I felt so badly for the people in the middle of the disaster. It made me feel so good to have my family there with me. I couldn’t imagine how the family members of the innocent that were watching the same thing on TV felt at that moment knowing that their loved ones were involved. The years following the incident have made me so proud to be an American. We have only gotten stronger as a country. I am grateful that there are so many people out there that risk their lives every day to keep us safe and protect us from another disaster like this.

Matt Proper

(Professional Beach & Indoor Player)

I was in Physics class.  Senior year of high school.  The principal came in and told our class what happened and I wondered, ‘What kind of moron accidentally flies a plane into a building?!’  We turned the tv on just in time to see the second plane hit.  I realized it was no accident.  I was shocked and appalled.

There’s never been any country in the history of the world that’s been such a welcoming depository of people and cultural gifts from all around the world.  To see everyone completely united in the midst of such devastation is something I’ll never forget.  But that’s what makes us Americans:  freedom, unity, and strength.

“We take the stars and blue union from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty.”

-President George Washington, The First President of The United States of America

God Bless America!

We will never forger the lives lost from this tragedy which changed the world and our lives.

(images: Founders of America)