Remembering Diane Hale-McKinzy

     I'm writing about Diane Hale-McKinzy today. She died on November 11th, 2001 at the Pentagon. She was 38 the day that she died. Diane served in the military for almost five years and earned several awards and commendations doing so. She became a Christian and was very faithful at her church, becoming a deaconess in 1995. She was married to a man by the name of Gary McKinzy a year before I was born, in 1993. Together they had  two daughters, Miss Connie E. Hale and Miss Ebony C. McKinzy. 
     This last 4th of July would have been their 20th aniversary had she not been taken that day.

     She and I shared several hobbies, including drawing and singing. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, something I enjoy even more now that I don't get to see them very often. Very recently I went on a camping trip with my family and a group of friends. Returing from that trip, I felt an overwhelming sense of depression. It was like the purpose had gone from my life and I had become a corporate worker with no future. I couldn't figure out why I was feeling this way until I realized it was my family. I missed them all so much it made every day I spent away from them painful. I can barely imagine what it must be like to lose a loved one, especially someone like Diane. She seemed in every way a wonderful woman and a good friend to all of those around her, and I would have liked to meet her if she was still with us today. The worst part about 9-11 was not that people died, or that our nation was hurt, it was the people, personalities and skill we lost that day.