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Take time to think where you were on Sept 11, 2001.
Do you remember why this day is important to all of us? It is imperative
that we remember. It must never happen again.
I was in the post office parking lot and they
called to me from the Chronicle office to come over quickly because the
World Trade Center had been blown up. Then it was reported that the
Pentagon was also under fire and terrorists had caused a plane crash
near Somerset, Pa. The attacks were being shown on television as they
happened. This kind of coverage had never happened in former wars. I did
not like it. I was scared and thought, “This is not happening in my
United States. Let me wake up now.”
But it was real. It was as if we had been assaulted
in our own homes. The impossible had happened. Our world and our country
would never be the same. We were angry because we were afraid. We were
angry because we were no longer safe.
The reaction of the American people was miraculous.
We banded together to grieve as a nation. We wanted to help the families
who had their dreams and hopes shattered. We wanted to go to New York
with the Red Cross. We wanted to adopt children left without parents.
What did we do? We went to prayer vigils, we
listened to services on television, our President and Congress led us in
prayer, we were one. We snatched at any words of comfort and we turned
to God. We were told in our church services, “Nothing, absolutely
nothing, will separate God from us. Even the disciples were afraid in
the storm, and were told, ‘Be not afraid, God will not abandon us’.”
The
following poem seemed to have a special meaning for me on the
anniversary of the day our nation’s heart was breaking.
Those of us who remember, write our memory down of
this day. We must make sure our children are not allowed to forget the
day our Nation’s heart was breaking.
Let us sing for unsung heroes, those
who answer freedom’s call,
Those united by one purpose, all for
one and one for all.
We will sing and not be silenced, We
will keep our voices strong,
For as long as we keep song, Freedom’s
cry will still live on.
Sing a song for unsung heroes, Sing
from sea to shining sea.
As the faithful sang before you, Sing
the Song of Liberty.
--Author unknown
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