Remembering Ricky Hafer and September 11, 2001

September 11, a date we as the people of the United States will never forget. While our safe, somber sleeping country went about its naive way of life, those jealous around us were watching and waiting. They were waiting for the exact right moments to strike us, when we would least expect it, and being a fairly new country, we sure didn't.

Is it Ironic that on that very day, of that tragic event, I was sitting in American history class at Laurel Valley Middle/high school in New Florance Pennsylvania, I think not. There was no better place to be than in an atmosphere where the American history- past was taught, after all the event we all watched in awe on the TV screen that day, as high school students, was an event to go down in the history books in the making.

Sitting in that class room at my desk, gawking up at the TV, with tears running down my face, I wasn't sure how to feel, or what to think, or for that matter much of anything. I can remember the class room still loud with chatter, and me thinking "this is your history people, how can you go along with your nonsense of talk instead of being interested in the fate of your country right now!" I was so very angry; all I could do was cry at the ignorance of the people around me. As we had just read and reviewed our lesson on the American revolutionary war, a war between the American colonist and England, my thoughts were immediately leaning towards that event, because it also was an earth shattering event for all Americans. Thinking to myself what war would be like in America in its day and age now compared to how it was back then was just an unimaginable thought process. With today's technology and resources within an arm's reach away for anybody to gain power compared to how it was in the 1700-1800's is startling, when the topic of a home turf war is up in the air. My thought process during those first few hours after the attacks may have been irrational, but not entirely out of the truth and reality realm, for at that point in time, nobody knew the fate of the country, or what was to be determined in the future.

To be honest, I felt much betrayed that day. Reason being; our country as a whole let our guard down, we were powerless. We the United States of America, home of the "free", got lost in our drama filled world of politics, racisms', entertainment, what have you, and forgot what it truly meant to be "free". So on that cold, hard, September day, I felt betrayed because it took, a nationwide tragedy for this country to pull together and be one whole, when we at all times should have been already.

As the days and weeks went by since the attack, a war was being developed in the plans of our government, new recruits and enlistees were being trained at that very moment to go and fight for our right to stay free, and make sure this event was to never repeat itself. Many of my friends, and acquaintances went off to war, but only one in particular left me broken hearted. Ricky Hafer was his name. He joined the Army in 2002 and became an infantryman. A true patriot, before even enlisting to serve, now gone, but never forgot. He did not forget why he was here, living his life in this country, and he died for that right, as well as many others. When I heard news of his death, Hafer died when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Died on November 15, 2003 , I broke down. It was like my America died that day. Ricky, was the old school American Man. He was a hard working, patriotic, kinds, loving, do anything for anybody kind of guy. But, I then sat back and realized, because of his personality and love for his country, the fact that he gave his life guarding his country, was Him through and through, and he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Hafer's stepmother, Angela Hafer, of Seward PA, told The Associated Press last night that he had joined the Army last year to get his life together after poor high school grades kept him from entering college to play football.

He also wanted to keep his country safe for his younger sisters, Holly and Heather Strickland, according to Hafer's former stepmother, Sherry Barclay, of Nitro, W.Va.

Laurel Valley Principal Matt McNickle said many students and faculty members at the school already were aware of the tragedy when they arrived yesterday morning.

McNickle, who is new to the Ligonier Valley School district, said he hadn't known Hafer. "But from the reaction from the faculty, everyone here thought he was a wonderful person."

In addition to football, Hafer also had studied welding at the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in Derry Township.

He had also been enrolled in the U.S. Air Force Junior R.O.T.C. at Laurel Valley for two years, earning the rank of cadet staff sergeant.

"He was the nicest kid you would ever want to meet," recalled Sgt. Ric Lambing, who also was saddened yesterday to learn of Hafer's death.

Lt. Col. Michael O'Neal -- who also coached Hafer when he played football for Ligonier Valley in junior high -- agreed that he "was just a real friendly, good-natured guy. He was always smiling and happy. He did well in the (R.O.T.C.) class and was interested enough to later join the Army."

RIP Ricky

As the reunions of this day come each year, and I look at the economy, the United States as a whole, we have already forgotten that day, maybe not the loss of our close friends, and family but the initial attack itself and the meaning behind it. After a while, people went back to taking for granted the goods this country has to offer us, and many abusing their rights to have those goods, and for what reason, I shall not know.

This event has affected me deeply as an American citizen in general, I try my best each and every day to live my life, as free and calm as I possibly can. Not letting drama and outside events ruin my day to be free and do what I want, while living here, for there are so many on this earth who would, be much more appreciative than most to live here, and I do not ever not want to be one of those people.

Don't ever forget that although we are the United States of America, if we the people are not United, then it just makes us the States of America, and all the lives suffered for our great land would be meaningless, In their memory do your job and honor them by, living free, and helping others live free with you, together.

To all who serve in our Armed Forces, My love, appreciation, support and respect goes out to you for doing the one job I have not had the courage to do. Thank you all, GOD BLESS YOU.