As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss,
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes,
We become one people.
We are:
- One color
- One class
- One generation
- One gender
- One faith
- One language
- One body
- One family
- One soul
- One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.
~Written by Dr. Cheryl Sawyer
University of Houston Clear Lake~
Love Faces Hate
(Thank you, Christy, for sending this to me.)
"A few men - not more than fifteen, according to the information
available - armed with knives, with box cutters and threats of bombs. Four civilian aircraft. This, apparently, is all it takes to change the world. That, and hate.
I'm going to talk about love.
The kind of love that lets a man put his two-month-old child into someone
else's arms so he can try to help make sure that the doomed aircraft he is
riding on is not used as a flying bomb.
The kind of love that makes a firefighter run into a teetering skyscraper
in the hope that he can rescue the people trapped inside, only to have that
building collapse on him and more than a hundred of his brother irefighters.
The kind of love that allows another firefighter to shrug off his injuries, saying, "Whadya expect? I'm a New Yorker!" and then burst into tears,
thinking of his fallen buddy, who has ten children.
The kind of love that creates a convoy of physicians and nurses heading for New York City, riding in ambulances and their own vehicles, not knowing how much help they can be, but just wanting to help.
The kind of love that causes people the country over to stop and give
blood, because that's the only way they can help.
The kind of love that permits a community like ours to put aside everything
to come together and stand against those who would harm our own.
This country and the free world beside us stand shocked and dismayed. We are angry, and justifiably so. We have been attacked by people with no
desire but to make us afraid, to make us hurt, perhaps even to make us hate the way they do. Maybe they do this because they know no other way. I personally do not care for their motives. I know that whatever their
ultimate goals, they have failed already. They attempted to sow fear, and
instead reaped heroism.
We are dealing with people who will die in order to kill, so great is their
hate. But they are dealing with a people who will give their lives to save
the lives of people they don't even know, so great is our love.
In the end, how can they possibly stand against that?"
~Author Unknown~
God Bless America
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam,
God bless America,
My home sweet home."
~by Irving Berlin~
By clicking on the World Trade Center Towers plaque above, you will be taken to a most comforting site - my friend Shell's Page for Peace. Shell grew up in the shadows of these magnificent buildings and has family, neighbors and friends who worked at or near the WTC. Even though she felt the attacks very deeply, she has been working hours and hours helping in the effort to find shelter and homes for pets who were orphaned or abandoned during the attacks. Her page gives the Prayer for Peace from many different religions - reminding us that we are all one.
After visiting Shell's page you will be in the right frame of mind to visit two sites showing condolences from around the world: Thank You Image Gallery and The World Reacts (musical). Both are large collections of beautiful, touching photos from literally all over the world. Picture after picture in country after country - all weeping over the horrific attack on America. If you have any doubts at all about the goodness in people or the fact that we are all one, you must visit this website. I must warn you, however, to be prepared to shed some tears - the healing kind. The kind of tears that are good for the soul.
A very touching memorial to the victims in this tragedy can be found here: Musical movie tribute.
And another moving tribute: Musical slideshow tribute.
A very lovely Memorial from Scotland.
A wonderful flash presentation: Can't Cry Hard Enough
ASPCA Responds to NYC pets affected by disaster
US 911 Network - Attack on America Resources
Flag Etiquette
Printable Flag Images
This background provided by Prestigious Dames.
Some images from Alaska Joe's Flag Page
and Free US Graphics.com