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Tribute To The American Family

© Cindy Ovard

Emotions are on edge as the week unfolds. It should be like any other week in the life of my children and family, but it's not. Where do we find comfort and feel safe and secure? There are many areas to find ways on dealing with our grief and finding peace. We need to help our families come to terms with feeling safe in the world we once felt on top of. The focus of Family Fun is finding that ray of hope and peace out of this monumental tragedy. As the uncertain months lay before us let us pay tribute to America's backbone; The Family.

Watching as flags fly at half-mast I ask my seven-year old if he knows why the flags are flying that way. He nods his head and says with wide eyes, "It's for all those people who died in the airplanes and in those buildings that were on fire." I nod and ask another question, "Should we get our flag out and fly it today?" He smiles his big toothless grin. We get home and find our flag hiding in one of the moving boxes I haven't yet unpacked. We pull it out triumphantly and he nobly holds the ladder while I climb the rungs to place the flag in its rightful hanging spot. He smiles as we complete our task, "Looks good Mom." and he is off down the street to play.

It begins with a simple task of letting him help me put the flag up. He knows we support and will suffer with those that are suffering as a nation. He does not know the magnitude of the suffering at his young age, but he knows something has happened. He senses it. He has seen the tears shed of both his parents as we've listened and watched the news.

My twelve year old grasps the meaning behind it all. She has seen first hand the grief we are feeling. Her tears were the first shed by our family as she felt the fear of the people in the airplanes. It was hard for her to imagine someone deliberately doing this. Comfort was given and more tears were shed as she came to terms with it. Her first thoughts were other family members. She could not sleep until she knew all were safe. Family is the heart of it.

September 11th is a day that will live forever in our lives. Secretary of State Colin Powell said it best:"The world has changed forever." My children have lost their innocence. We all have lost some of the American innocence, but we haven't lost our courage to stand proud; to stand tall; to be numbered as those that love our great nation. We are proud to fly the great American flag. I'm proud to be teaching my family of this great love for a nation under God.