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On September 11, 2001 the people of the United States witnessed the most terrifying attacks ever seen on American soil. At 8:45 AM, the North Tower of the World Trade Center burst into flames when a hijacked plane crashed into the tower and exploded. My uncle, Kevin Bracken, had just arrived at his firehouse in the upper west side of Manhattan to start his workday. Although they were one of the farthest firehouses from the World Trade Center, the Westside Highway that runs straight down the west side of Manhattan, permitted them to be the first firefighters on the scene. As thousands of people ran down the stairs of Tower 1, Kevin and the other firefighters pushed their way up to try and save as many people as they could. Although his body was never found beneath the rubble, I believe that a spirit like his can never be destroyed. He lives on in each and every person that he has touched. �Stand Here With Me� by Creed captures everything that I have learned from Kevin, what happened to him, and how he is still with me in my heart today.
Although I like Creed, I would not call myself their number one fan. But luckily, my roommate Brenda could. When Creed�s latest album �Weathered� came out in November of 2001, Brenda had it practically before it was out on the shelves. After listening to the cd, she shared this song with me. Kevin was the first person ever to ask me, if I had a glass that was filled with water halfway, would I say it was half full or half empty. This was before I had ever heard of this concept, so I said I didn't know. He told me that I always want to have my glass half-full because it is better to look at the good side of things rather than the bad. He was the most optimistic person I have ever met and always lived his life with his glass half-full. I think that this is the �right way to live,� and he is the closest person to me besides my parents, that ever honestly came right out and gave me a lesson about life that I will always remember. And the memories of him I will always cherish. They are all happy and funny memories that still make me laugh. Like how every single Christmas we would open at least one of each other�s presents, because our names are the same except I have an R and he has V. And of course it would always be something girly like a nightgown or headband and he would have to put it on and wear it for the rest of Christmas morning. Or like the time when my brother and I were little and he tied a walkie-talkie to the Christmas tree and talked to us. We couldn�t figure out how the Christmas tree could talk and how it knew our names and what we wanted for Christmas. The chorus, �You stand here with me now� represents everything I have said so far about Kevin. Besides being in my thoughts and prayers, he is in my heart. I think he not only �stands here with me now,� but he also stands with his wife, his three older sisters and older brother, his parents, nieces and nephews, and the rest of his family. He stands with the other firefighters from Engine 40, Truck 35, his many friends, his two softball teams, hockey team, and golfing partners. He stands with the three doormen at his apartment that each claimed to me �Kevin liked me the best.� He stands with every person that he has touched, and we each hold a piece of him in our hearts. Kevin�s optimism, wit, and charming smile �live on in on in the words of a song.� Creed�s amazing presence and sincerity in �Stand Here With Me� will forever be a reminder of my uncle. Since September 11, I am lucky to have a part of Kevin�s spirit in me and in honor of him I will live my life to the fullest, with my cup always half-full. Kerin Carlson |
C/O Elena Boyd O'Brien 89 Campbell St. Quincy, MA 02169 |