Love it, Mean it.: Celebrate Life

For the past 2 years when the calendar hits September, Pepperdine College Republicans spend hours and hours (I've literally watched them slave for days on end) perfectly aligning thousands and thousands of flags--one for every victim of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. September 11th, 2001 is a day that will never be forgotten; the severity of what happened that morning has changed our country forever. But as horrific as that day was, it has become apparent that since then, we as Americans have come closer together and are now more united as citizens of the greatest country in the world.

Having grown up with a Navy fighter pilot father and (now) brother as well as being so blessed to have the life i live, I love America and I believe in it, especially since one day in particular: the day my brother told me he would be honored to die for his country. I, of course, was voicing how scared I am of him going to war, and his intense patriotism caught me off guard. How can an individual believe in his or her country so much that they would actually die for it? I honestly don't understand, but regardless of my naïveté, his saying that truly made me proud to be an American, as cheesy as it sounds. Now, when I drive by the sea of flags that is currently taking over Pepperdine's enormous front lawn, it brings tears to my eyes. And as sad as it makes me to think about every life that was taken nine years ago, remembering them makes me proud and patriotic because whether they chose to or not, they died for our country.

My "I ♥ America" rant might seem a little unnecessary for my (primarily) fashion blog.. I just felt a little insensitive for taking really cool pictures at such an emotional place. But although the flags bring up tons of emotion, it's crazy how much the flags make me want to celebrate life and celebrate being an American.

And so we celebrated.