My name is --------. My daughter has been a student of Melissa ISD from kindergarten to now high school freshman. She told me this evening there was no mention of September 11, 2001 at all today. I have been a career Firefighter/Paramedic for the ------------- Fire Department since July 2001. I was 21 years old. I have spent the last 22 years continuing to answer 9-1-1 calls and am still active duty. The year that I was of minimum age to have the legal ability to do many things, began in 2001. I have spent my whole adult life, and career in Fire/EMS with the memory of 9-11-01.

We were only sixty days into a hopeful 25 to 30 year career in Fire/Rescue/EMS. We were students in Paramedic school at Methodist hospital Dallas. And we watched, with the rest of the world, our country under attack on September 11, 2001. We watched our countrymen die. We watched the living, attempting with all their might, to help their neighbors. Usually complete strangers. We watched FDNY answer, climb, and none refused a single order. We watched NYPD perform in the same way. We watched the Port Authority personnel perform in the same way. We watched any boat or ship, nearby evacuate every living soul that needed it, from Manhattan Island. Strangers rescuing strangers. Americans helping Americans.

Total killed 2753

FDNY 343 (greatest loss of Firefighter lives in one incident, in world history)

NYPD 23

Port Authority 37

Operation Enduring Freedom 2,343

Those are the lives lost because of 9-11-01

And the Melissa Independent School District cannot even officially mention it today and every September 11 that follows? You should be ashamed of yourselves. You have taken for granted the blood, sweat and tears shed for you and your families everyday from then to now. You have taken for granted the Soliders, Marines, Sailors and Airmen that stand ready to defend America, Texas, and Melissa every day. You have taken for granted the Firefighters that stand ready to put out your fires, cut the crashed car away from you, deliver your babies, save your spouse from a heart attack. You have taken for granted the Law Enforcement officers that stand ready to defend you against evil, and render aid as swiftly as possible.

Where is my America? Where is the appreciation and patriotism that we saw on September 12, 2001?

It is not within the Melissa Independent School District. You could not take five minutes out of your busy day to at least acknowledge the sacrifices made, that affords you your way of lives?

Shame on you.

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Christian
Husband
Father
American
Firefighter/ Paramedic