April 19th

The moment that we have all been waiting for!!!! Today my day started at 530 am. I arrived on site and took all of my materials that I would need to check the media in and out. The area for the media was around the Survivor tree; and we had this area blocked off with media only signs. It was cool out weather wise which was an added bonus because they told me that the year before it was freezing out. For the most part the media were very nice and respectful. Of course, the people that didn’t have their credentials verified and had waited to the last minute were a bit pushy and rude but I was able to control everybody and make sure that they were inline :o) The ceremony all together was awesome. I am very happy that I had the opportunity to be in this position and see all the people that came out. It was a very powerful atmosphere and it was very peaceful. It was nice to see Secretary of homeland Security Janet Napolitano and AAM director Ford Bell speak. The part that really had my choked up was the reading of the 168 names it was very sad, but I made it through without crying. After the ceremony, I packed all my items together and moved to the inside of the Memorial. The next event was the Media Symposium which featured Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, editor in large, Mark Helprin, and Mike Boettcher, a University of Oklahoma professor. This event was really great and I thought it was a cool little setup, very intimate. All and all this day was such a great experience for me! I could not have interned at a better place and I thank Kari for the opportunity to be a part of the team.