There are moments in our lives that are like a snapshot — memories perfectly preserved in our mind’s eye years later, even the tiniest details still intact.

Sometimes those snapshots are happy, like the birth of a child or a wedding day, for instance. Pictures ingrained in your memory that bring a smile to your face.

But our brains take mental snapshots of more than the happy times. We document those moments that make the most impact.

Growing up I can remember adults and older siblings around me being able to recall exactly what they were doing when they heard President Kennedy had been shot.

My first snapshot moment of significance was the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. I recall walking along our gravel road in Minnesota, looking up at the moon visible in the clear blue sky, thinking how truly amazing it was there were people on the lunar surface at that very moment. I was too young to remember much more than my parents’ excitement as they watched the broadcast, but I’ll never forget the warmth of the sun or the blue of the sky or my sense of awe.

Neither will I forget watching the events of 9/11 unfold before my eyes ten years ago. Who can forget the stunned disbelief, the feeling of utter helplessness as our country came under attack? It is a snapshot moment I wish was just a bad dream.

I will take time to remember this weekend, as will most of us. For anyone interested in attending, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, North Whidbey and Oak Harbor fire departments will hold a memorial service Sunday at 1 p.m. at Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor. Capt. Jay Johnston, commanding officer of NAS Whidbey, will be one of the speakers.

Capt. Johnston was at the Pentagon when it was attacked ten years ago. I’m sure those are mental snapshots he would rather do without.

-Kathy Reed, editor