Healing Field

Saturday we went to the Healing Field at Tempe Town Beach. I have come to realize my children do not understand impact 9/11 had on our country. They know that 9/11 is Grandpa's birthday, they are supposed to wear red, white and blue to school, and some men flew a plane into the Twin Towers. I also realize that many years will pass before they do understand. They are post 9/11 children they will not know life any different- they won't know what it was like before. We have talked about how many people lost their lives- 2800 is a big numer. But children can't understand what 2800 is, honestly even I have a hard time grasping that number.

The Healing Field changed our perspective. 2800+ flags were flying, one for each person who lost their life. Each flag had a name attached, a yellow flag if they were a first responder and a teddy bear if they were a child. Andrew found 11 bears the youngest being 2.

I found myself getting a bit misty-eyed. 2800 flags is quite an impressive sight. But it was what those flags stood for that brought my emotions to the surface.

Although the boys just wanted to run through the rows of flags, which was quite an enticing prospect, ( you can't blame them) once we got them to understand and read about some of these individuals they walked though as reverently as boys can!! Hopefully some year, some day the memory of the vast field of flags will represent something more to them.