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My Birth
On this very day, I was born. The time of day was 7:01 AM. I was born at Holy Redeemer Hospital in Huntingdon Valley. -
The Attacks of September 11th, 2001
On this day, the United States of America was attacked by 19 members of the group al-Qaeda. At 8:45 AM, the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Only 18 minutes later, the second plane hit the World Trade Center. Less than 15 minutes after the second crash, the southern tower fell in a heap of smoke. At 10:30 AM, the other tower fell. All four planes hijacked were meant to go to California, and were chosen for their excess fuel. (http://www.history.com/topics/9-11-attacks) -
War in Afghanistan
On this day, October 7th 2001, the War in Afghanistan officially started with the launch of Operation Enduring Freedom. This was followed by air strikes on the Taliban and al Qaeda. The purpose of this was to get the Taliban to stop sheltering al Qaeda. This caused the U.S. to be dragged into a war in Afghanistan, which the effects are still prevalent today, such as hatred from terrorist groups.
(http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/28/world/operation-enduring-freedom-fast-facts/) -
War in Iraq
On this day, October 9th, 2002, congress authorized the war in Iraq. The Iraq Resolution was the plan authorizing this war. Just days before, congress authorized the President of the United States to use the Armed Forces as necessary in Iraq. This affected our relations with Iraq and citizens within the United States, bringing tension to a high. (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ243/html/PLAW-107publ243.htm) -
Homeland Security Act
On this day, November 25th, 2002, George W. Bush signed the Homeland Security Act. This act brought about the Department of Homeland Security, a department used for protection of the citizens and country. This was the biggest change to the government since 1947. The citizens of the United States were greatly affected by this event, as security everywhere was tightened.
(https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/5005) -
Sky Marshals Added to Planes
In January of 2003, Sky Marshals were added to airplanes. This was done in response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. The sky marshals were brought about to prevent the hijacking of any more planes, and to save the lives of innocent citizens. This affected the lives of plane passengers positively, as safety was increased. (http://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/air-marshals-united-states) -
Tornado Week May 4th - May 10th 2003
During this week, the weather conditions were just right for massive amounts of tornadoes. About 412 tornadoes in 19 states were reported from May 4th to May 10th in 2003. 107 tornadoes were formed on May 4th. This affected many citizens of the United States, as 41 people were killed, 664 were injured, and there was a total of over $900 Million in property damage. (http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-blogs/weathermatrix/the-hellish-tornado-week-of-may-2003/57066348) -
The Birth of my Brother
On this day, my brother Aidan Hecker was born. While I was too young to comprehend it at the time, I understand now that this would change my life. I had no idea who he was or what he was going to be, but I am thankful for who he has become. He is a funny, loving brother to me whom I appreciate deeply. -
Osama Bin Laden Threatens the US
On this day, October 29th, 2004, a video of Osama Bin Laden speaking in arabic is leaked. In this video, he is seen threatening terrorist attacks on the United States, and he is also seen taunting George W. Bush over the attacks of 9/11. This brought about concern for the safety of the citizens of the United States. (http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2004/11/200849163336457223.html) -
Super Bowl XXXIX
This was a very sad day for Philadelphia. The New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl 24-21, leaving the Patriots the defending champions two years in a row. Many lives, including my family's, were saddened by this sports moment. (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200502060nwe.htm) -
Attempted Assassination of George W. Bush
On this day, May 10th, 2005, a hand grenade was thrown at George W. Bush while he was giving a speech. The grenade landed 100 feet from him, but it malfunctioned and did not explode. The person behind this was Vladimir Arutyunian, a Georgian man. This led to a need for increased security at public events. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4603802.stm) -
Hurricane Katrina
On the morning of August 29th, 2005, the Gulf Coast of the United States was hit by a hurricane. The hurricane's winds ranged between 100-140 miles per hour, and the hurricane was 400+ miles wide. Massive flooding ensued, leaving many US citizens displaced. Relief efforts were so delayed, since local, state, and the federal government were unsure of how to handle it. (http://www.history.com/topics/hurricane-katrina) -
Wii Releases in America
On this day, the Nintendo Wii was released in America. This was very important to me, as it became one of my favorite pass times after purchasing it. The wii would hold some of my all-time favorite video games, like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, an arena fighting game that all my friends enjoyed. This became the pinnacle of hanging out with friends. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nintendo-Wii) -
Virginia Tech Massacre
On this day, 32 students and teachers were killed at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The man behind this was Seung Hoi Cho, a student at Virginia Tech. He later died from a gun wound inflicted upon himself. The shooting began at 7:15 AM, and ended with 27 student casualties, and 5 faculty casualties. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/massacre-at-virginia-tech-leaves-32-dead) -
Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series in 2008
On this very day, the Philadelphia Phillies won the 2008 MLB World Series. The series was in Game 5, the Phillies up 3-1. The game ended 4-3, after Brad Lidge closed the game in a strikeout. I had never seen my parents so excited, as my dad was jumping up and down, cheering out in joy. I will never forget this moment, as it accompanies my love for baseball. -
Barack Obama is Sworn In to Office
On this day, January 20th, 2009, Barack Obama is sworn in to office as the 44th President of the United States. This was record-breaking, as he was the first African-American president in our country. His immediate actions dealt with the state of our country's economy. This affected me in the way I saw the world, as Barack Obama was someone to look up to. I share many political beliefs in common with him. (http://www.futuretimeline.net/21stcentury/2009.htm#barack-obama-timeline-2009) -
BP Gulf Oil Spill
This is known to be the worst oil spill in history. On April 20th, 2010, a deepwater oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded and sunk, killing eleven people. Underwater cameras showed that oil was still leaking from the pipes underwater, about 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana. The well was capped 87 days later, and about 3.19 million barrels of oil leaked in the gulf. This impacted the ecosystem, killing lots of wildlife in the area. (http://ocean.si.edu/gulf-oil-spill) -
Assassination of Osama Bin Laden
On this very day, Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces. The U.S. forces conducted a raid on his compound in Pakistan. This search for him was nearly a decade long. While many citizens were satisfied with hearing the news of his death, many demanded for the media to show pictures of his death as proof. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/osama-bin-laden-killed-by-u-s-forces) -
Hurricane Sandy
While this could easily be a government event, I look at this on a more personal level. My family was impacted by Hurricane Sandy. While it wasn't as bad around Abington, our shore house in Sea Isle City, New Jersey was affected. Many items in the garage needed to be replaced, such as chairs, bikes, fishing rods, and even a refrigerator. Luckily, the flooding didn't get into the main floors, but it still caused significant monetary damage. -
The Death of my Aunt Mic
My Aunt had been battling melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, for quite some time. On December 12th, 2012, at around 4:00AM, the cancer had won the battle. She passed away, and the grips of sadness and grief had crippled our family. -
Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting
Adam Lanza, a 20 year old man, is the perpetrator for this tragic event. On December 14, 2012, the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, was broken into and innocent lives were massacred. Twenty students and six adults lost their lives this day. This was a very tragic event that reminded US citizens to have higher levels of security within buildings, especially schools. (http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/12/us/sandy-hook-timeline/#1) -
Customizing my Computer
On this day, I customized my own computer. I picked out all the parts and the operating system that would come with it. I use this computer for doing school work, playing video games, recording videos, editing videos, live streaming. and talking with friends. This impacted my life, because before I customized one, I did not have a computer as resourceful as this. -
Orlando Night Club Shooting
On this day, the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida was the site of a mass-shooting. Omar Mateen, a 29 year old, went to a gay nightclub, and committed the most deadly mass-shooting in US history. 49 people were killed, and 53 were wounded. This gave citizens of the US a scare, as guns are a very controversial topic in politics. (http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/) -
Graduating the Junior High
On this day, my academic career at the Abington Junior High School was over. I had finished my freshman year with flying colors, all As and a 4.5 GPA. Every year, I had strove for greatness, and I seemed to achieve it each year. I really enjoyed my time at the Junior High, and it will be in my memory forever. -
Going to Mexico
On this very day, my family and I traveled to Cancun, Mexico. We spent three nights at the Moon Palace Resort. We were able to swim with dolphins and manatees at La Isla Mujeres, and enjoy Mexican culture. Going to Mexico impacted my life by not only being the first time I flew internationally on an airplane, but that I was able to further my knowledge of the Spanish language and practice it in a Spanish-speaking country. It gave me a new perspective on learning a world-language.
