This Christmas was a wonderful one! The Stewart family visited NYC, Danielle and I got to spend a week in Massachusetts, and my favorite holiday did not cut me short on friends, food, family, and laughter. We did a lot of different things: visited the Statue of Liberty, Christmas Eve service, played multiple Yankee Swaps (that's dirty Santa for my southern folk), and ate incredible meals in both NYC and Boston. But the one stop early in the trip I just cannot get away from was our visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan.
I've actually had the honor (look up the actual definition of that word) of being on that hollowed ground previously, but this was the first time I got to visit the musuem itself and see the freedom tower and reflecting pools completed. It alone is well worth a trip to NYC.
My whole life, I've been a fan of the Statue of Liberty and what it means, truly a symbol of freedom for all of the world to see. I've admired the fact that for millions, yes millions, seeing that symbol as they passed Liberty Island and entered Ellis Island meant one thing for sure: they have arrived in the land of opportunity. The United States of America will never hold a title more deserving than simply being a place where men and women can live a life worthy of what they put into it. You're not owed anything else here. Not free housing, food, happiness, internet, or education, but merely the opportunity to freely make of your life what you wish. The picture below is of Ellis Island and Lower Manhattan taken from the Statue of Liberty. 
How awestruck the immigrants must have been years ago, because it still is so powerful to think about in the 21st Century. But the "Mother of the Exiles" used to be the symbol of freedom, liberty, opportunity, and the core of this country that I love. That was until a Tuesday morning in September, 13 years ago when my world changed.
I've officially lived longer in the post 9/11 era than I have lived before it, so I take for granted the way of life that has changed drastically for us. So for me, the symbol of this country at its greatest is still in New York City, it's just at the site of the terrorist attacks on September the 11th, 2001. The values that America were founded on are constantly in debate as being relevant today, or even being correct. That is, until a moment like that fateful day in September. It was in that moment of pain, hurt, weakness, and utter brokenness that true oneness was displayed by all humankind within these borders. I can't help but think that one day I'll get to take my kids there and tell them that this is where America's stand against terrorism started. I want them to know that the suffering experienced on that piece of ground was more than enough for over 3 million service members to voluntarily go into harms way and fight evil face-to-face in the name of humanity.
Ground Zero will forever be the new millennium's starting point to understanding the modern perspective of freedom and duty that we have as free Americans to not only our brothers and sister here, but all over the world. All of those thoughts run wild when I'm standing on the streets of Manhattan looking at areas such as the reflection pools, which stand where the North and South Towers of the WTC used to be as seen below.
It's was while looking over the names engraved here that I glanced down at my right arm, which has been exposed to so much personal pain and suffering physically and I thought, "Yeah, it was worth it!" I don't need reminders and confirmation of much, but when I think of all the families that are forever changed because of 9/11, I will gladly endure a lifetime of pain to prevent others from sharing in the suffering of innocence being lost by evil acts.
The prevailing thought I continue to have was about my brothers in the 101st Airborne, and all the Warfighters who have looked evil in the eye and stood face to face with the worst this world has to offer. I couldn't help but think of how different the backgrounds are of the guys that are currently serving in Bravo Company, as they were in my time, and my predecessors in Normandy, France. I thought of how vast the reasons and motivations were for each man that enlisted and in fact, remembered a quote I love from a veteran-run organization, "Men go to war for adventure and patriotism, but they stay and go back for their buddies."
It's true, everyone has a reason for doing what they do, whether they know it or not is irrelevant. But what every soldier who has ever fought in combat has in common is this: every single one's conviction for duty began in the same place, their heart!! And for thousands, in fact I'd say hundreds of thousands, the journey to the hearts of so many began on that sacred ground. It is true, the big principles and beliefs are often overlooked or forgotten in the daily details, especially in war, but in the presence of great sadness, brokenness, and pain, I am thankful there was opportunity for triumph of good over evil!
A humbling reminder is usually needed from time to time when one lives in a place of such opportunity and privilege as we do! My hope and encouragement is that you would not only remember what happened on 9/11, but also that you would see what this war truly is- good vs evil! And though we may have the luxury of our own, differing opinions of this war's basis and need, we are not privileged to our own facts, one of which is a famous quote by Edmund Burke, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Thank you 21st Century Warfighters that have made me proud to show my scars and tell my story to the world. One of which is proof that there are still men ready to travel the world to protect this land from our enemies and free people from oppression regardless of who they are. For that, I'm Proud I get to stand on sacred ground and think not only about my heart, but of the ones that I got to share my journey with! It is their hearts, along with the ones lost on that day, that serve as the modern-day symbol that freedom will always come with a price tag.
Hang Tough,
CJ
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