9-11 Tribute





We will never forget that day. The shock, the heartbreak. I know my son won't; it was his birthday. 9 years old and he wanted to change his birthday, because, as he said, the memories of what happened will be all he thinks of that day.



We all lost something that day, whether it be a loved one, our innocence, or a sense of safety. But we also gained something that day. A renewed sense of pride in our country and a new appreciation for our freedom and our strength. Within hours, every car, every shop window in sight had a flag. We shouldn't have had to have this happen to give us such pride, but now that we have it, remember it. Don't let them have died in vain.



It's been almost a year now, and it still seems like yesterday. I suppose being in the US Army, it makes it all the fresher, but I see signs all around us that our patriotism is still strong. It makes me proud to see it. I have friends over there, fighting for our country and that too makes me proud.






This past June, my family and I drove from Virginia to upstate NY and we took a detour past the Pentagon so that we could see it with our own eyes. As we approached the Pentagon on I94, we began to see more and more signs that people still cared. There were dozens of flags hanging from the overpasses above. We passed industrial parks, all with giant flags facing the highways. We passed through rural areas, saw flags on houses, on barns. And then the signs for the Pentagon began to appear. As it came into view, I started to get teary and then I saw it all. I saw the devastation, the destruction that was caused by the doomed airplane. And it made me even angier than I had been. To know how many people were killed, how much was destroyed, because of intolerance. But as we got closer, I saw all the activity among the devastation. People still going to work, albeit in new offices. It was enlightening to see. No matter what, they couldn't keep us down!



Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa
Catholic Nun, Missionary
Nobel Peace Prize Recipient