(This post is scheduled to appear at 10:06 AM, when Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, PA.)
The Star Spangled Banner
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
Showing posts with label Lest We Forget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lest We Forget. Show all posts
Friday, September 11, 2009
Lest We Forget, Part 3
(In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, I'm re-running a post that I wrote last year. I've prepared this post to run at the exact time that Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. Why I've chosen to post this message at this particular time will become more clear after you read the post.)
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Today is September 11, 2008. Seven years ago, the face of America and its people were changed forever. Changed in a way that cannot ever be undone.
Seven years ago today, our nation was attacked. But more than that, our nation was brought to its knees and truly shaken to the core. I hate to use euphamisms like that, but really what other words are there?
This morning, I wanted to make a very short posting here and simply put up a picture of the American flag, but as I looked through the pictures that I found while searching Google, I realized that there were other pictures that spoke to me. I'd like to share those with you now.
As the daughter, neice, cousin and granddaughter of volunteer firemen, this image is stirring. It is eerily reminiscent of the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington DC. In the face of horrific tragedy and unthinkable loss, these men took time to raise our flag. It was as if to say, "You may have hurt us, but we stand tall and proud." For as much as we honor those who died in the planes, at the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon, let us not forget those who died in service while trying to save lives. Let us not forget the firefighters, EMT's and police officers.
This photo shows a flag being unfurled over the side of a wall at the Pentagon. I believe that the attack at the Pentagon will always hold an especially sacred spot in my husband's heart, as well as my own, because of the loss of this man.
The photo to the left is of Lt. Jonas Martin Panik. He graduated from high school with my husband. While S. did say that they were never close friends in high school, it was very clear that this personal connection to the events of September 11 made it all the harder for him to bear. Lt. Panik worked in the Naval Intelligence Office, and as the plane crashed into the Pentagon, he was part of a group trying to gain information about that morning's attacks on the World Trade Center. This article provides a glimpse into the events of that day, as it pertained to Lt. Panik and others in his group. Jonas left behind his wife, their dogs, his parents, and his sister.
I believe that the events of seven years ago will be forever engrained in my heart and soul. I believe that the attack on America will be like the assasination of John F. Kennedy for my generation - we will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we learned of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the field in rural Pennsylvania.
In tribute to that, I ask that you use the comment section of this post to share with others where you were or what you were doing when you first heard about the attacks on our country.
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Today is September 11, 2008. Seven years ago, the face of America and its people were changed forever. Changed in a way that cannot ever be undone.
Seven years ago today, our nation was attacked. But more than that, our nation was brought to its knees and truly shaken to the core. I hate to use euphamisms like that, but really what other words are there?
This morning, I wanted to make a very short posting here and simply put up a picture of the American flag, but as I looked through the pictures that I found while searching Google, I realized that there were other pictures that spoke to me. I'd like to share those with you now.
I believe that the events of seven years ago will be forever engrained in my heart and soul. I believe that the attack on America will be like the assasination of John F. Kennedy for my generation - we will always remember where we were and what we were doing when we learned of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the field in rural Pennsylvania.
In tribute to that, I ask that you use the comment section of this post to share with others where you were or what you were doing when you first heard about the attacks on our country.
Lest We Forget, Part 2
(This post is scheduled to appear at 9:03 AM, the time that the second plane, Flight 175, hit the second tower at the World Trade Center.)
I wanted to use this post to explain the title I've given this series of posts. I have a very real concern that the American public will forget what happened to our country on September 11, 2001. Of course I don't mean that in the extremely literal sense - there will be enough media coverage about the date itself to ensure that people will always remember that *something* happened on that date. But what will people remember?
Will people remember that this was the first time since Pearl Harbor that our nation was directly attacked? Or will they just remember that a couple of planes crashed into a few buildings and a meaningless field? Will they even remember that a fourth plane crashed into a field, rather than be used as another jet fuel-filled bomb?
Will people remember that Muslim extremist terrorists planned for months to execute this attack in a well-orchestrated fashion, using resources here in this country to help them prepare?
Or will they just remember that America some how "deserved" what happened on that day? This thought makes me particularly ill.
Will people remember that innocent Americans were jumping from the World Trade Center towers, hoping that they might somehow survive the fall because they knew the fire and the impending tower collapse would surely kill them?
Or will they just remember that some nameless and faceless people died that day.
Will people remember that over 3,000 people with names and faces and families who loved them lost their lives that day, between the sites in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC? People like Lt. Jonas Panik, who you'll read more about in the next post.
Or will they just remember what happened in New York City?
Will the history books my future children read in school accurately describe the events of not just September 11, 2001 itself, but also what lead up to it? Will those books give the proper amount of honor and respect to the individuals who were heroes on that day? Will it talk about the brave souls who tried to stop the planes from being hijacked? And what about the individuals who were perhaps even more brave, who caused the plane to crash in that field in western Pennsylvania - sacrificing themselves so that another location did not become the site of another attack?
Or will I have to provide this kind of education myself? You can bet that I will, regardless of what the history books say. My children will not grow up without knowing the truth of the events of that day, just like my children will learn, in age-appropriate ways, about the events of the Holocaust.
These are the things that I think about this day. This is why I wrote this series of posts, and why I wrote in remembrance of the day last year. So that I can my part to ensure we never forget.
I wanted to use this post to explain the title I've given this series of posts. I have a very real concern that the American public will forget what happened to our country on September 11, 2001. Of course I don't mean that in the extremely literal sense - there will be enough media coverage about the date itself to ensure that people will always remember that *something* happened on that date. But what will people remember?
Will people remember that this was the first time since Pearl Harbor that our nation was directly attacked? Or will they just remember that a couple of planes crashed into a few buildings and a meaningless field? Will they even remember that a fourth plane crashed into a field, rather than be used as another jet fuel-filled bomb?
Will people remember that Muslim extremist terrorists planned for months to execute this attack in a well-orchestrated fashion, using resources here in this country to help them prepare?
Or will they just remember that America some how "deserved" what happened on that day? This thought makes me particularly ill.
Will people remember that innocent Americans were jumping from the World Trade Center towers, hoping that they might somehow survive the fall because they knew the fire and the impending tower collapse would surely kill them?
Or will they just remember that some nameless and faceless people died that day.
Will people remember that over 3,000 people with names and faces and families who loved them lost their lives that day, between the sites in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington DC? People like Lt. Jonas Panik, who you'll read more about in the next post.
Or will they just remember what happened in New York City?
Will the history books my future children read in school accurately describe the events of not just September 11, 2001 itself, but also what lead up to it? Will those books give the proper amount of honor and respect to the individuals who were heroes on that day? Will it talk about the brave souls who tried to stop the planes from being hijacked? And what about the individuals who were perhaps even more brave, who caused the plane to crash in that field in western Pennsylvania - sacrificing themselves so that another location did not become the site of another attack?
Or will I have to provide this kind of education myself? You can bet that I will, regardless of what the history books say. My children will not grow up without knowing the truth of the events of that day, just like my children will learn, in age-appropriate ways, about the events of the Holocaust.
These are the things that I think about this day. This is why I wrote this series of posts, and why I wrote in remembrance of the day last year. So that I can my part to ensure we never forget.
Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times.
- Gustave Flaubert
History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived,
but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.
- Maya Angelou
Lest We Forget, Part 1
(In remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001, I am posting lyrics to a song that saw a lot of air time in the days following the attack on our great country. This song never fails to give me chills.
This post has been prepared to post at the exact time the first plane, Flight 11, hit the World Trade Center.)
God Bless the USA
Lee Greenwood
If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again,
With just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars,
To be livin' here today,
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
And they can't take that away.
And I'm proud to be an American,
Where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
Next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
From the lakes of Minnesota,
To the hills of Tennessee,
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston,
New York to LA,
Well there's pride in every American heart,
And it's time we stand and say
That I'm proud to be an American,
Where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
Next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land.
God bless the USA.
And I'm proud to be an American,
Where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
Next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land.
God bless the USA.
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