US
Flags : United we Stand! : International
Reaction : Liberties : Home
These are personal reports and letters
that have been sent to me through email. I felt the need to share them with
you.
I am posting these just as I received them.
Friends, This is very powerful and disturbing.
A narrative from a NYPD cop who was there. God bless them.
Caution! This is very disturbing reading.... Jump to NEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIRST OF ALL---THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS
AND
I AM NOT TYPING THIS MESSAGE TO BRAG. I AM TYOING
IT TO
DETAIL THE ABSOLUTE HORROR I WITNESSED TODAY.
I HAVE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I PRAY FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED......
I WORKED THE DAY SHIFT. ALL OF A SUDDEN A COP
COMES OVER
OUR RADIO SHOUTING THAT HE WITNESSES A PLANE
CRASH INTO
THE TWIN TOWERS. HE REQUESTED EMS, FD, ETC...
(HENCE,
THE FIRST OF MANY COPS RESPONDING TO EVACUATE
PEOPLE)
MY UNIT WAS DISPATCHED TO THE LOCATION. OUR
ENTIRE TEAM
WENT DOWN THERE LIGHTS AND SIRENS. WHEN I PULLED
UP TO
THE SCENE IT WAS UNBELIEVEABLE--A HUGE HOLE
IN ONE OF
THE TOWERS. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN---BAM--THE
SECOND PLANE
SLAMMED INTO THE OTHER TOWER
---MY INITIAL FEARS WERE FOR MY GIRLFRIEND WHO
WORKS IN
2 WORLD TRADE-----I HAD DROPPED HER OFF AT THE
SUBWAY TO
GO TO WORK--THANKFULLY I MADE HER LATE, AND
DID THE MATH
AND DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY SHE COULD
HAVE MADE IT
DOWN THERE THAT QUICKLY.----THOUGH I COULD NOT
CONFIRM
IT---ALL CELL PHONE SERVICE WAS DOWN
MY TEAM AND I APPROACHED, SEARCHING FOR OUR
MUSTER
LOCATION AND OTHER TEAM WE WERE TO MEET. GOD
DAMN--WE
WATCHED AT LEAST 42 PEOPLE (INNOCENT OFFICE
WORKERS)
JUMP FROM AROUND THE 100TH FLOOR AND HIT THE
GROUND WITH
A LOUD BANG--DISINTEGRATING UPON IMPACT.
WE MET OUR TEAM RIGHT IN FRONT OF 2 WORLD TRADE.
WE
WATCHED AS EMS/FIRE DEPT AND POLICE EMERGENCY
SERVICE
COPS GOT THEIRE RESCUE PLANS TOGETHER AND ENTERED
THE
BUILDING. --SEEKING TO SAVE LIVES--THEIR SPECIFIC
JOB
ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER---GOD DAMN--THE FUCKING
BUILDING
STARTED COMING DOWN----IT SOUNDED LIKE A FREIGHT
TRAIN
COMING-----I YELLED RUN AND WE ALL TURNED TO
RUN---OF
COURSE THE GOD DAMN BUILDING WAS FALLING OUR
WAY----WE
HAULED ASS, FOR OUR LIVES----I WAS HEADING FOR
THE RIVER-
-OR AN OPEN BUILDING THAT APPEARED TO BE SAFE----THE
DAMN RIVER WAS TOO FAR AND WE WERE RUNNING IN
THE OPEN,
NOT NEXT TO A BUILDING LINE-----WE WERE FUCKED!!!!!!!!!!
ALL YOU COULD SEE WAS THIS 30 STORY PLUME OF
CONCRETE
DUST/DEBREE AND CHUNCKS OF METAL AND SHIT, ROARING
AT US
AT WHAT APPEARED TO BE LIKE 20 MPH----THERE
WAS NO WAY
WE COULD OUT RUN IT---I WAS THE FASTEST OF MY
GROUP OF
10---I WAS A GOOD 30 FEET AHEAD OF THEM---I
KEPT YELLING
FOR THEM TO RUN AND HAUL ASS-----I COULDNT BARE
TO WATCH
AS THE FUCKING WALL OF DEATH ENGULFED THEM ALL
AND
HEADED FOR ME NEXT------I WENT FOR AN UNMARKED
DARK
TINTED WINDOW CROWN VICTORIA---I TOOK MY GUN
OUT AND
TRIED TO BUST THE WINDOW WITH THE BUTT OF MY
GUN----IT
DIDNT WORK, SO I POINTED IT AT THE WINDOW AND
WAS ABOUT
TO SHOOT (TRYING TO GET IN TO IT FOR COVER)--THEN
I
THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE MIGHT BE INSIDE AND DIDNT
WANT TO
KILL SOMEONE ACCIDENTALLY----SO I WENT TO THE
FRON TOF
THE CAR AND GOT ON MY KNEES--- I TOOK MY SHIRT
OFF AND
SHOVED IT INTO MY FACE AS THIS FUCKING DEATH
STORM CAME
ROLLING OVER ME---I HAD MY HEAD DOWN AND TOOK
A BREATH---
NO FUCKING LUCK, THERE WAS NO AIR ONLY CONCRETE
DUST/SUT, ETC...----I TOOK A FEW MORE BREATHS
AND GOT
THE SAME RESULT---NO FUCKING AIR------I THOUGHT
THAT WAS
IT--I WAS GOING TO DIE BY ASPHYXIATION--I HEARD
A WOMAN
CRY FOR HELP BECAUSE SHE COULDNT BREATH--I WANTED
TO
HELP, BUT COULDNT EVEN HELP MYSELF------YOU
COULD NOT
SEE YOUR HAND IN FRONT OF YOU--IT WAS PITCH
BLACK WITH
NO AIR AND THE SHIT WAS SO THICK YOU COULD FEEL
IT LIKE
IT WAS ACTUALLY MATTER----------I TOOK ANOTHER
BREATH
AND WAS ABOUT TO THROW IN THE TOWEL, BUT I THOUGHT
ABOUT
MY KIDS AND HOW I DIDNT WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS
FOR THEM---
-SOMEHOW (MIRACLE/MIRACLE/MIRACLE/MIRACLE) I
FOUND SOME
POCKETS OF AIR IN MY SHIRT-------I SOMEHOW GOT
THROUGH
IT (THICKNESS LASTING ABOUT 15 MINUTES BEFORE
YOU COULD
SEE BEYOND 5 FEET) AND FOUND A CITY BUS AND
GOT ON IT---
MY PARTNERS SURVIVED AND HAPPEND ONTO THE BUS--WE
WERE
ALL THROWING UP CHUNCKS OF CONCRETE (I GUESS)
THEN OUR
JOB AND NATURE KICKED IN--WE SEARCHED FOR PEOPLE
IN NEED
AND GOT THEM ONTO THE BUS AND OUT OF THERE-----WE
EVACUATED PEOPLE ONTO TUGBOATS AND OTHER VESSELS---------
WHEN THE 2ND BUILDING CAME DOWN, WE WERE FAR
ENOUGH AWAY
AND JUST GOT A SLIGHT TASTE OF IT.
-----AS OF NOW THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPT IS
MISSING---
THE ENTIRE RESCUE COMPANY 3 OF THE FIRE DEPT
IS MISSING--
--SEVERAL ENGINE COMPANIES ARE MISSING
----16 MEMBERS OF OUR EMERGENCY SERVICE UNIT
ARE MISSING-
--THE ENTIRE MIDNIGHT SHIFT AND DAY TOUR SHIFT
OF THE
1ST PRECINCT ARE MISSING------MEMBERS OF THE
BROOKLYN
NORTH TASK FORCE AND MANHATTAN SOUTH TASK FORCE
ARE
MISSING
---AT LEAST 250 FIREFIGHTERS ARE MISSING
---AT LEAST 100 COPS ARE MISSING
--MAN, I WATCHED AS CIVILIANS WERE ORDERLY EXITING
THE
TOWERS, THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THE BUILDING WAS
COMING
DOWN ON THEM-----THOUSANDS MISSING--
-----THERE ARE MANY RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE
AGAINST
ARABS AND MUSLIMS OCCURING-------I BELIEVE JERSEY
STATE
TROOPERS GOT A GUY WITH A VEHICLE WITH EXPLOSIVES
HEADING FOR THE GW BRIDGE
MANHATTAN IS CLOSED OFF---BRIDGES AND TUNNELS,
UNLESS
YOU ARE AN EMERGENCY WORKER----NATIONAL GUARD
IS IN THE
STREETS WITH MACHINE GUNS-----2 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
ARE
ENROUTE----WE HAVE FIGHTER PLANES COVERING THE
AREA.
THANK YOU TO ALL------THIS WAS A TRULY HORRIBLE
DAY---
GOD BLESS ALL OF THOSE THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES
WHO HAVE
LOST THEIR LOVED ONES---MAY WE FIND SURVIVORS
TODAY---I
WORKED FROM 8 AM TO 11PM, I AM GOING BACK IN
AT 4AM,
FINGERCROSSED.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL NEW YORKERS, JERSEY COPS,
JERSEY
EMS AND FD, UPSTATE EMS AND PDS, ETC.... AND
ALL THE
PRIVATE SECTOR COMAPNAIES THAT HAVE DONATED
FOOD, DRINK,
CLOTHING, ETC...........
Sent to
me by:
Ken Churilla
Silicon
Valley Web Directory
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obviously this is no joke. The following emails will give you
a flavor of what is happening in the disaster zones.
Like many people, I have friends and relatives in New York City and await hearing
that they are safe.
From a friend in NYC: >>I just tired calling you...but i can't get through anywhere-
NY, DC- it is >>hard to even find out if my friends and family are ok- they
have suspended >>the primary elections, suspended the trains and buses, closed
all bridges >>and tunnels- we are being told to evacuate the city but no one
even knows >>where to go- i can see smoke from my building and I live all the
way on >>110th street- > >NSA and CIA -- their complexes are miles outside of
Washington DC proper -- >have been evacuated. From an NSAer: "I want to know
as a member of the >intelligence community how the fuck we didn't see this happening."
> >-Declan > >********** > >
From: John Young >Subject: New York Report >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:14:39 -0700 > >E-mail in Upper West Side of Manhattan is okay, local and national >TV too. Radio is out due to loss of transmitters on the collapsed WTC >towers. Our wire and wireless phones are on and off. Subways are >partly out. We cannot see the WTC area from the roof of our building, >so TV and Internet are all we got. I was about to leave for a meeting >in the WTC area when the news broke. > >Trying to locate a daughter who has a dot.com job near the WTC. >Many friends nearby too. > >A word on the structure of the WTC towers: > >The WTC towers had a distinctive structural system which utilized >the exterior wall framing for lateral bracing -- a so-called lattice >framework. This allowed minimization of internal lateral bracing >and opened up the floor plans. You can see the effect of that when >the buildings collapsed, with the lattice framework crumbling and >the interior imploding. The lattice works so long as it remains >intact as a system: if a part of it goes, then the whole system >goes. > >The planes punched holes in the lattice, one tower punched >on two sides, maybe the other too. Portions of the lattice of >the second tower briefly remained standing after the collapse, >then fell. > >The system was considered daring at the time of construction, for >it distributed loads more efficiently than legacy column-and-beam- >supported systems. Probably the legacy systems would not have >totally collapsed due to damage at upper floors, although floors >above the damage would have come down if columns were >weakened. > >********** > >
From: Rembert Oldenboom >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 14:57:51 GMT >Subject: Re: FC: Terrorists attack World Trade Center and Pentagon >To: declan@well.com > >Hi Declan, > >I'm in Europe and it's almost impossible to reach any news site on the >internet. The Washington Post site was the only one well reachable. Even >local sites are unreachable now. > >Guess this is something you won't hear in the US: > >From the Dutch television I understood the Dutch stock market had to be >stopped as stocks were dropping extremely fast. >Currently one Dutch tv channel is dedicated to what's going on in the US. > >I learned from Dutch Teletext some other plane has crashed in >Pennsylvania. > >What the heck is going on? Dutch television could only describe what's >going on as an act of war. Seeing CNN it's impossible to think otherwise. > >Hmm... maybe interesting, not seen on tv yet: > >http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-crash-tradecenter-cla >im.html > > Palestinian Group Denies World Trade Center Crash > > By REUTERS > > Filed at 9:58 a.m. ET > > JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A senior official from the radical Democratic >Front for the > Liberation of Palestine denied Tuesday the group had any connection to >a double > plane crash onto New York City's World Trade Center. > > An anonymous caller had told Abu Dhabi television the DFLP was behind >the > crash. > > ``I emphasize that the story released on Abu Dhabi TV by an anonymous >person is > totally incorrect,'' Tayseer Khaled, a senior official from the DFLP >politburo in the > Palestinian territories, told Reuters. > > ``The DFLP is against hijacking planes and against endangering the >lives of > civilians who are not connected with the struggle of this region,'' he >said. > > > >Greetz, > >Rembert Oldenboom >Netherlands. > >********** > >From: "Warren E. Agin"
>Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:45:12 -0400 >Organization: Swiggart & Agin, LLC > >My wife called. News is that office towers in Boston are being evacuated >and did I think she should pick up our son from school. > >Wanted me to come home even though my office is on the 4th floor of a six >story building. > >Guess I won't get much work done today. > >Regards, > >- Warren Agin > >********** > >
From: Mark Milone >Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:11:15 -0400 > >I'm writing from midtown NYC. The South WTC building has collapsed. Phones >are >+not working. Buildings are issuing terrorist warnings... > >- Mark > >********** > >From: "Stephen T. Middlebrook"
>Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:13:17 -0400 > >I'm not in the Main Treasury building. We have our overlooking the Tidal >Basin. I can see the pentagon smoke out my office window. > >There was just a huge explosion someplace -- we heard it and felt it, but >we can't figure out where it was. > >********** > >From: "Stephen T. Middlebrook"
>Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:17:23 -0400 > >We're being evacuated now. > >wish me luck > >stm > >********** > >
From: John Noble >Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:10:13 -0400 > >At 10:13 AM -0400 9/11/01, Stephen T. Middlebrook wrote: > >I'm not in the Main Treasury building. We have our overlooking the Tidal > >Basin. I can see the pentagon smoke out my office window. > > > >There was just a huge explosion someplace -- we heard it and felt it, but > >we can't figure out where it was. > > > >I have a view from the top floor of my building, at the highest elevation >in Washington, looking down at the city from the northwest. The Secret >Service has someone on the roof. You can see a lot of smoke at the >Pentagon, but not even a plume of smoke from the area of the State Dept. or >the Supreme Court, or anywhere else. The traffic below, on Wisconsin >Avenue, is in evening rush hour mode. > >John Noble > >********** > >
From: Mark Milone >Subject: Re: What's going on? World Trade Center, Pentagon, > Old Executive Office Bldg >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 11:00:07 -0400 > >Try NYC traffic cams: > >http://nyctmc.org/xbrooklyn.asp > >- Mark > >********** > >
From: Jonathan Wallace >Subject: World Trade Center >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 10:14:55 -0400 > >I was exiting the subway under the building when the first impact >happened....I >+went upstairs, saw the two WTC buildings burning. There was a secondary >+explosion, holes in buildings blocks away from the WTC, glass raining >+down. People running and crying everywhere. I ran for the Brooklyn Bridge >+and got home to Brooklyn on foot in time to see the building collapse on >+CNN. > >********** > >Subject: RE: Terrorists attack World Trade Center and Pentagon >X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.0.4417.0 >Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 08:36:39 -0700 >Message-ID: <0DB13B7B9CF04B43B3BB03AED2D93C07455900@mailbox.sfbg.com> >
From: "Nessie"To: >X-UIDL: d766cb798571ac082918db2e61fc6532 > > > what kind of legislation we're likely to see in response > > >Two words: Reichstag Fire > >********** > >
------------------------ >POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may >redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan >McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to >Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is >archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ >------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ken Churilla Silicon Valley Web Directory http://www.GoCee.com/valley/ Eureka! Internet Search Engine
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I just read this on a "post" and thought it worthwhile to pass on. It so poignantly exemplifies the American Spirit. It gave me shivers and makes me so very proud to be counted as an American! Read on...
=========================================================
I Was There I am a Registered Nurse and an EMT. On Tuesday afternoon,
I headed for the city from Orange County, NY. At each Police blockade, I displayed
my credentials hoping not to be turned away. Each and every time, I was sent
down roads closed to other traffic and urged to hurry. It was eerie being one
of the only vehicles on what should have been totally congested highways. When
I rounded a curve on the West Side Highway that should have given me a great
view of the skyline, I and the only other car I could see, slowed dramatically.
It was then that the magnitude of what had happened hit us. The huge column
of brown and grey smoke was a sight I will never get rid of. I was sent to gathering
stations for medical personnel and at one point, was standing at the foot of
what was once the World Trade Center. Being a native New Yorker, born and raised
in Brooklyn, the hollow feeling I got was totally consuming. I spent most of
Tuesday night being driven around by two Police Officers going to wherever we
were needed. I was working with 5 other rescuers on a trauma team. What was
so unbelievable to me was that I was the only American. The Cardiologist, Paul,
is from England. Hans, the Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon is from the Netherlands,
Herrman, the Anesthesiologist, is from Germany. Carlos the Doctor, is from Columbia,
Mavi, the other nurse is from Chile, Nuna, the other doctor is from Hong-Kong.
Each was in New York on other business. They were here for Job interviews, at
conferences, and visiting friends and families. They came for the same reason
I did: We all just came there to help. I will not describe the devastation we
saw, or the kinds of horrendous injuries we were trying to remedy. I will however,
tell you that we and everyone else we saw reacted like typical New Yorkers:
with a kind compassionate and giving attitude. Doors were open, people were
grilling food on sidewalks to give to us, men and women walked up to us to try
to give us water, prayers, food and encouragement. Medical supply trucks backed
into our areas and dropped off millions of dollars worth of equipment, CVS emptied
it's shelves of eye wash, tylenol, Motrin, gauze and tape. Water trucks, Poland
Springs, Dasani, dropped off loads of bottled water. And the FOOD!!! At midnight,
I had a Prime Rib Dinner, around 4 AM I had some fresh baked ham on a newly
baked roll. There was an endless supply of water and drinks, fruit, cold cuts
and breads. Restaurants were dropping off fabulous trays of their specialties.
Ordinary people were bringing Dunkin Donuts, rolls, butter, clothes, towels,
sheets, shovels, water, drinks, cups, plates and anything else you can think
of. It was the only way they could find to help. People were handing us their
home phone numbers and addresses so that we could call or stop by for a place
to wash up or sleep. At one point, someone had written "God Bless You" in the
dust on the windows of our vehicle. Though we chatted professionally when we
were traveling, for the most part we were silent. Not because we were newly
acquainted, but because, well, what could we find to say? We were overcome with
what we were involved in. By the time I looked at my watch seriously, it was
3 AM Wednesday morning. Like many others there, I had been up for more than
24 hours. We were tired, exhausted and stressed to the max both physically,
and emotionally as well as professionally. By 6 AM when we didn't have our hands
on a patient we were giddy with fatigue. So were the hundreds and hundreds of
other rescue workers. Some had friends and families in those buildings. In all
that time and all that tension not a single cross word was spoken. Even the
press behaved in an unusual fashion. Though the cameramen were standing next
to us, not a one of them were shooting scenes of injured being wheeled into
our treatment area. No microphones were pushed on our faces and no reporters
stood in our way. The air of total respect was overwhelming. At 8 AM I was ordered
to either sleep or leave. Not being able to close my eyes, I drove home. The
magnitude of what was happening hit me when I stopped to get a cup of coffee
and some gas. I was still wearing the disposable surgical gown with my title,
and team assignment written in tape across my back. I know I must have looked
like something out of a war movie. As I sat alone, a Police Officer tapped me
on the shoulder and said, "Thank you." I lost my composure and sat there crying
for a minute. When I finished pumping my gas, the foreign born cashier told
me there was no charge for me, asked God to protect me and that I get home safely.
That rest stop on the NY Thruway was filled with military equipment and men
and women dressed in fatigues. One Soldier came up and hugged me and walked
away without saying a word. I got home and hugged my husband. He too, is an
RN and EMT who worked locally that night. I took a shower and we went back.
We stayed treating people and setting up make shift Operating Rooms for the
next 8 hours. Thankfully, the area we were manning was no longer needed. Again
we were sent to get sleep or go home. Not finding any where else we could help,
we headed out of the City. On our way we saw cars, trucks, fire apparatus, police
vehicles and ambulances from all over. Charleston SC, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Canada. We cried at the sight of all these strangers who gave up their own daily
lives to drive all this way to help people they didn't know, never met and had
no ties to. As I write this, I realize that the men and women at whose side
I worked all night, I will never see again. The odd part of it is that I never
even said good-bye. So to them, I say, you have changed my life and I will never
forget you or your spirit or what you did for my city. To the rest of the world,
I say, "Pray." Pray that we find justice for the hundreds of firefighters, police
and rescue workers who will not be home tonight. Pray that our children will
never wake up to this again. Pray that this is the last time our grandchildren
will ask, "Do you remember where you were when you heard about...."and pray
that Paul, Hans, Herrman, Mavi, Nuna Carols, and I never meet again on a day
of such hatred, love, devastation and hope. It was, as my husband Jon said,
New York's worst moment and finest hour.
Thanks for listening, Eileen H. RN, EMT
--------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the San Jose Mercury News on 9/15/01
A neighbor's unspeakable loss BY SHARON RANDALL
Tuesday morning, while I prayed to hear from my son and his wife in New York,
my neighbor was quietly clinging to hope, waiting for some word from her daughter.
It was just after 7 a.m. when I learned that a hijacked airliner had crashed
into the World Trade Center in New York. For a brief moment, it was a news story
-- perhaps the biggest in my life. Then memory dawned and suddenly the news
became personal. I began dialing my son's number in New York, only to hear a
recording that all circuits were busy. Norma Keleher lives in Pacific Grove,
a few blocks from my house. She heard the news around 9 a.m., when she and her
husband, Tom, got a call from their son-in-law, Frank Jensen. He told them a
plane had crashed into the Pentagon -- and that he feared their daughter was
on it. Suzanne Calley, 43, had been attending a business conference in Virginia.
She had called her husband at their home in San Martin, near Gilroy, at 4 a.m.
from Dulles International in Washington, saying she was about to fly to Los
Angeles on American Airlines Flight 77. Jensen told the Kelehers that was the
last he had heard from their daughter -- and that CNN was reporting that Flight
77 had crashed into the Pentagon. Sometimes we wait, hoping to get a call, needing
to hear the voice that will put our fears to rest. And sometimes we wait hoping
never to hear what we know but can't bear to believe. My call came just before
noon. I was in the shower getting ready to go to Capitola, where I was to read
columns at an open house for my friend's new tearoom. ``Mom,'' said the voice
I'd been waiting to hear, ``it's me. I've been trying to call you. We're OK.''
He was standing on the balcony of his apartment watching smoke billow up from
the World Trade Center. I had decided that morning, while waiting for his call
and watching planes crash into buildings on TV, to spend that day exercising
my freedoms: The freedom to work and keep my commitments. The freedom to pray
for my loved ones and for those of others. The freedom to live my life. The
freedom to be free. And that is what I did. I went to my friend's open house
and read an old column about two little girls who had taught me that the only
time to have tea is ``right now.'' I talked and laughed and cried a little with
20 or so other women who had decided that morning to exercise their freedoms,
too. Then I drove home, grateful to God that my children were safe, and grief-stricken
for the thousands who were not. I sat down to write a column to tell you about
that. And that is when I read a message from my neighbor, saying that her daughter
-- whom she called ``the light of our lives'' -- had been confirmed as one of
the passengers on the flight that crashed into the Pentagon. What do you say
to a woman, or to a nation, or to a world that has been wounded beyond all words?
How can you comfort when you don't feel comforted? You begin by remembering
what you believe -- that good is greater than evil, truth prevails over lies
and adversity is overcome in the end by doing the just and honorable things.
You tell her your heart is broken by her unspeakable loss. You promise to pray
for her and her family and to do all you can to help them in the days ahead.
You remind her that her love for her daughter is stronger and more enduring
than all the terrorists, all the hatred, all the evil in the world. You urge
her to exercise her freedoms: The freedom to grieve. The freedom to heal. The
freedom to remember her daughter. The freedom to be alive. You listen until
she says all she has to say. And finally, you hang up the phone, write a different
column and exercise your freedom to cry. http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/arts/docs/randall15.htm
=============================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: In Honor
(Original Message) Sent: 9/17/2001 11:08 AM
I work 3 blocks from the World Trade Center (I call it the world trade center instead of Ground Zero, because I have faith it will return bigger and better someday soon). I've worked downtown Manhattan for over 8 years, and live in the NYC area my entire life (26 years). In all my years of travelling to NYC to come to work or play, I always looked at those towers that I could see all the way from my home in Staten Island. I took for granted that they would always be there. I took for granted my safety while in the City. I was at my desk when the first plane hit, my best friend who worked in the Financial Center (which is accross the street from WTC) called me at 8:49am Tuesday morning and said to me did you just hear that, and I said "yes, what was that?" He informed me a plane just hit tower 1 of the WTC. I didn't believe him, so he told me to go outside and look for myself if I didn't believe him. So I did, I my friend J sitting right next to me and we ventured out into the bright beautiful sun of that morning only to see that my friend was right, there was smoke streaming out of the top of the tower, there were papers blowing on my street from the building. As we were standing out there looking up suddenly it got very quiet, and everyone stood still. We heard a noise - it was a plane - it was flying very low - very fast and it was heading towards us - only we couldn't see it above the mountains of Wall Street (buildings). Than I heard a crash sound, i don't think I can ever imitate and than there was an explosion - nothing like anything I've ever heard on TV - it knocked me off of my feet 3 blocks away and there was fire flying from the sky. We ran down the block to Greenwich Street to see if it hit the 2nd tower - indeed it did. It severed that 2nd tower in half at the middle I seen at least 20 floors burning straight accross the middle. At this point we were about 1 block away from the WTC. We didn't figure, nobody imagined. I could see people jumping from the top - those images and the sounds I heard that day will never leave my mind. For all of you watching it on TV and thinking that it looks bad - it was 100 times worse. We couldn't breathe. We were helpless and they sealed off the city, we were trapped in a city with 2 burning 110 story buildings, and not knowing what was to happen next. Not knowing if they were done with their game - THOSE BASTARDS! I sat there and I could see straight down the street to the WTC and I seen Rescue 1 Fire Trucks my friend Rob's company (he's a fireman). Than I seen Engine 40 pull up, which is someone I grew up with's company. So brave they were they ran right into tower 2. I could see my friend Mike so young (25) and good looking - he was smiling as usual - his smile lit up the sky since we were children, as it did that day. About 15 mins had passed since I seen his company enter the 2nd tower. Than there was another sound I can never imitate and I don't want to - a rumbling sort of metal screeching sound. Than it felt like an earthquake so I looked up, and there it came - tower 2 heading right for us 110 stories below, only 15 mins after I watched someone I cared for very deeply go into the building. We ran - it was that running that they always talk about in dreams where you're running but you're not moving. Thankfully my job was only 1 block away and we made it to the lobby of our building with this monsterous cloud chasing us at the heels of our feet. We opened the lobby door and the cloud of death slammed it closed behind us. Than it was dark. As dark as night. I couldn't see anything - not even the first step to step out of our front door. I could see that the smoke was moving, I could see some things through the smoke, but I have no idea what it was. We were locked in our 100 year old building which was intaking this evil cloud of poison through our air conditioning system, which the building shut down right away, than it was creeping in through the windows and elevators. Only minutes later I heard that now familiar sound of crashing and felt the earthquakes under us again, and I knew that the other building had fallen. Than there came the blackness again - running past our building. I knew that I seen death passing me by. Than reality began to set in as I realized that I just watched someone I loved since I was a child walk into the 1st building that collapsed, and that another friend of mine was in those buildings trying to save others at the exact time they came crashing down. By this time it was about 1pm, and they were letting us leave. I stepped out in front of my building to see the horror that none of you on telelvision could see. I seen pants completely burnt out in the middle with the belt still on it sitting in front of my building, I seen a 4 inch pile of ash in front of my building with assorted papers and only God knows what else, because no matter how hard I tried I could not figure out what some of these objects were burned and charred in front of my building. The pile of ash in front of my building was about 4 inches high - it grew taller and taller as it went closer to the WTC site. I estimated at the top of my block it was probably just under 1 foot of soot. I seen a shoe here and a shoe there, one was melted into a horseshoe shape. Than I picked up the closest half burned piece of paper next to me and read the words on that paper. Cantor Fitzgerald, with some names. I picked it up and put it in my bag as sort of a war memorabilia - not knowing at that time. We were sent home on tug boats, the Staten Island Ferry was being used as a hospital transport for injured people from the WTC. I traveled home with a co-worker and we sat in amazement at the first site we had of the NYC skyline without our beloved towers, the gateway to our CITY! Instead of our trusted towers we had mountains of smoke where they once stood with F-14 fighter plans and the Coast Guard guarding the city, not to mention that stench that even still today haunts downtown. By the time I got back to Staten Island - it had set in. On my way home on the bus, I heard all these young kids talking about it with exitement in their voices. I just sat and quietly mourned my old friend - who I knew couldn't have made it out of there. I remembered him as a child - with that smile. I remember seeing him pull up on the back of that fire engine Tuesday morning, and I wanted to run and take him with me, but they had it closed off. I remember he looked over in my direction as he was getting his gear from the truck and I know he was scared I could see it on his face. He didn't see me, because I feel if he had seen me, he would still be here. Michael still hasn't been found and neither has Rob. They are among our brave heros that sacrificed their lives for us - our first casualties of war. His mother informs me that the Chief told his mother that they think Michael was heading up tower 2 when it collapsed. When I got home and the television was buzzing with news of the greatest loss ever incurred. They started to talk about the casualties. The largest company loss of the WTC was Cantor Fitzgerald. They lost an estimated 700 employees, and here I held a piece of paper that once sat on someone's desk fragile and burnt. Trading seized on Wall Street all last week, and today is our first day back at work in the city - 3 blocks from WTC site. There are army men and army hummers patrolling my block. I needed 2 forms of ID to pass the barracade. I'll tell you this much I don't mind one bit. I have trouble sleeping, I keep hearing those horrid sounds replaying in my mind - the sounds I hear are nothing like the television - you can turn the TV off. I keep seeing Michael - his smile. Playing over in my head where he may be, and feeling so helpless. Wanting so badly for him to just come home - wanting so bad to go back to the last time I seen him Sunday and stop him from going. My poor friend John, he is also a fireman, and is the only one of 5 of his buddies (Mike & Rob included) still alive and accounted for. We came back to work to show those faceless Cowards that we will not be stopped. Freedom and Democracy prevail once again! As scared as I am to be here again, I do it for Michael, Rob and all the others lost there. I stand here brave for all of us, as I'm sure they were scared, I am scared as well - We are all scared, but I've turned my fear into a strength to show the world - that we will survive. We must survive for Michael and all those other innocent people that perished that day. We must retaliate for Michael and all our future generations to never see or hear the horror that I seen first hand on September 11, 2001. I do not want my children to live through what I seen on that Tuesday morning that started out so beautiful. I was singing on the way into work, but in the back of my head I feel like I almost knew it was too good to be true. On my way into work today, I seen the bagel vendor which mans the corner of Broadway & Beaver where I stopped for my tea on Tuesday morning at 8:15 it was abandoned this morning - 2 inches of soot covered the bagel I almost bought on Tuesday. We need to stop this nonsense - we need to defend ourselves for once instead of saving the whole world. If we can't protect ourselves than who can we protect. For the first time in my life there are no colors or races on the streets of Manhattan, everyone says hello to everyone - FROM NOW ON - WE ARE ALL AMERICANS - ONE RACE - UNDER GOD - USA - UNITED WE STAND AGAINST THIS TERROR WE HAVE WITNESSED. I know this much - we will prevail - we must prevail. I say if they don't hand over Bin Laden by the end of the week - that we bomb Afganastan - and show them what over 6000 people of their own missing does to their spirits. I assure you they would never recover the way we have from this tragedy, and I say we show them that first hand. I'm sick of the US being the nice guys - let's show them whose in charge - let's show them what they showed us - but only - we'll be the last punch thrown. IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE WE LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. FOR ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE MISSING AND DECEASED - I PRAY FOR YOU. FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT CONTINUE TO DIG US OUT OF THIS BLACK HOLE THEY INFLICTED IN THE HEART OF MY BEAUTIFUL CITY! I HONOR YOU! TO ALL THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE - UNITED WE STAND - LET US ALL REALIZE THERE IS ONLY ONE NATIONALITY IN USA - AND THAT'S AMERICAN! LET US BE PROUD TO BE AMERICAN AND STOP THE PETTY FIGHTING AMONGST US - THE COLOR WARS - THE GANG WARS - LET'S USE THAT ENERGY TO FREE THE WORLD OF THIS EVIL THAT SEES NO COLORS - JUST AMERICANS AS TARGETS! IN LOVING HOPING PRAYERS OF ROBERT CORDICE (RESCUE 1) AND MICHAEL D'AURIA (ENGINE 40)! I KEEP MY FRIEND JOHN IN MY PRAYERS - BE STRONG JOHN - GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE SEEN AND THE LOSS OF YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES - I KNOW YOU WILL GET US THROUGH THIS - YOU HAVE COME THIS FAR. WE SALUTE YOU! FOR ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT TO SAVE US - WE WILL FIGHT TO SAVE YOU!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published Wednesday, September 12, 2001
The Miami Herald Leonard Pitts
We'll go forward from this moment. It's my job to have something to say. They
pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American
soul. But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving
eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must
be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering. You monster. You beast.
You unspeakable bastard. What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's
attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we
would learn? Whatever it was, please know that you failed. Did you want us to
respect your cause? You just damned your cause. Did you want to make us fear?
You just steeled our resolve. Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought
us together. Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome
family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a
family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional
energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's
misfortune, a cartoon mouse. We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability
of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life
with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent,though
-- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to
do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers
in a just and loving God. Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all
of this makes us weak. You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong
in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals. IN PAIN Yes, we're in pain now.
We are in mourning and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality
of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that
this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot
development from a Tom Clancy novel. Both in terms of the awful scope of their
ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down
as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and probably,
the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied
before. But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making
us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time
anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental
pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force. When
provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost,
go to any length, in the pursuit of justice. I tell you this without fear of
contradiction. I know my people, as you, I think, do not. What I know reassures
me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future. In the days to come,
there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose
failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening
again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms.
We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too.
Unimaginably determined. THE STEEL IN US You see, the steel in us is not always
readily apparent. That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people
who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.
As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we
will rise in defense of all that we cherish. So I ask again: What was it you
hoped to teach us? It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the
depths of your hatred. If that's the case, consider the message received. And
take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what
we're capable of. You don't know what you just started. But you're about to
learn.
======================================================
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
. . . Sorry I'm not all jokes lately. I thought you might be inspired by the following letter. Ken
Hit the buildings, Missed America . . . . By: Charles Brennan,
Windrose 18, So. Florida Date: 9/11/2001 9:07p.m. An open letter to a terrorist:
Well, you hit the World Trade Center, but you missed America. You hit the Pentagon,
but you missed America. You used helpless American bodies, to take out other
American bodies, but like a poor marksman, you STILL missed America. Why? Because
of something you guys will never understand. America isn't about a building
or two, not about financial centers, not about military centers, America isn't
about a place, America isn't even about a bunch of bodies. America is about
an IDEA. An idea, that you can go someplace where you can earn as much as you
can figure out how to, live for the most part, like you envisioned living, and
pursue Happiness. (No guarantees that you'll reach it, but you can sure try!)
Go ahead and whine your terrorist whine, and chant your terrorist litany: "If
you can not see my point, then feel my pain." This concept is alien to Americans.
We live in a country where we don't have to see your point. But you're free
to have one. We don't have to listen to your speech. But you're free to say
one. Don't know where you got the strange idea that everyone has to agree with
you. We don't agree with each other in this country, almost as a matter of pride.
We're a collection of guys that don't agree, called States. We united our individual
states to protect ourselves from tyranny in the world. Another idea, we made
up on the spot. You CAN make it up as you go, when it's your country. If you're
free enough. Yeah, we're fat, sloppy, easy-going goofs most of the time. That's
an unfortunate image to project to the world, but it comes of feeling free and
easy about the world you live in. It's unfortunate too, because people start
to forget that when you attack Americans, they tend to fight like a cornered
badger. The first we knew of the War of 1812, was when England burned Washington
D.C. to the ground. Didn't turn out like England thought it was going to, and
it's not going to turn out like you think, either. Sorry, but you're not the
first bully on our shores, just the most recent. No Marquis of Queensbury rules
for Americans, either. We were the FIRST and so far, only country in the world
to use nuclear weapons in anger. Horrific idea, nowadays? News for you bucko,
it was back then too, but we used it anyway. Only had two of them in the whole
world and we used 'em both. Grandpa Jones worked on the Manhattan Project. Told
me once, that right up until they threw the switch, the physicists were still
arguing over whether the Uranium alone would fission, or whether it would start
a fissioning chain reaction that would eat everything. But they threw the switch
anyway, because we had a War to win. Does that tell you something about American
Resolve? So who just declared War on us? It would be nice to point to some real
estate, like the good old days. Unfortunately, we're probably at war with random
camps, in far-flung places. Who think they're safe. Just like the Barbary Pirates
did, IIRC. Better start sleeping with one eye open. There's a spirit that tends
to take over people who come to this country, looking for opportunity, looking
for liberty, looking for freedom. Even if they misuse it. The Marielistas that
Castro emptied out of his prisons, were overjoyed to find out how much freedom
there was. First thing they did when they hit our shores, was run out and buy
guns. The ones that didn't end up dead, ended up in prisons. It was a big PITA
then (especially in south Florida), but you're only the newest PITA, not the
first. You guys seem to be incapable of understanding that we don't live in
America, America lives in US! American Spirit is what it's called. And killing
a few thousand of us, or a few million of us, won't change it. Most of the time,
it's a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of Spirit. Until we're crossed in a cowardly
manner, then it becomes an entirely different kind of Spirit. Wait until you
see what we do with that Spirit, this time. Sleep tight, if you can.
We're coming for you..... Charles Brennan
-
In light of whats going on, I think this is news everyone should hear. This, from a Canadian newspaper, no less, is worth sharing. Ken
America: The Good Neighbor. Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record: "This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped. The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My nephew-in-law was at sea for a month and had just returned to his bride, my niece, for a three month stint on shore when the attack commenced. He was immediately ordered to sea. He forwarded the following communications from his commanding officer. I thought I would share them with you as they reveal the thoughts of our men at their battle stations in the Mediterranean Sea. Ken
DATE : Fri Sep 14 21:32:58 PDT 20 SUBJECT: no subject Dear Sixth Fleet Family: USS La Salle and all other ships in Sixth Fleet are now underway. We got underway this afternoon as required by Force Protection (FP) Condition Delta, the FP Condition that was set yesterday following the heinous attacks in the United States. Let me explain the thinking behind sending ships to sea. Whether in response to a heightened threat condition or even during severe weather, sending ships to sea is a common practice, which provides for greater safety. Simply put, our Navy ships are safer at sea. At sea they're maneuverable and can operate all onboard equipment. Operating that onboard equipment at sea is of course what we do as we serve our nation, and our activities have been focused primarily on conducting that business in a safe, professional manner. While the circumstances dictating our current at sea period are truly unprecedented, the extraordinary work your family members do every day at sea continues. After the hard work of La Salle's Engineering Department to quickly ready the flagship to deploy, we conducted a flawless sea and anchor evolution and have now set our normal underway watches. Your family members, both ship's crew and Sixth Fleet Staff, are currently going about their normal daily at-sea routines to ensure our ships are operated safely and effectively. Yesterday, our world changed dramatically. And, while relations amongst nations may change as a result, the way our Sailors and Marines operate will remain a standard of professionalism. We know that while we're serving our nation at sea, you are serving at home as well. Your service is no less important to each and every one of us. Please take a moment to remember we are part of a larger, Navy family and consider how you might be able to assist one another in our absence. We draw strength in the knowledge that you know that you are always in our thoughts. We will continue to keep you informed of our activities at sea. Sincerely, Gregory G. Johnson Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet Vice Admiral, United States Navy
===================================================
DATE : Fri Sep 14 21:34:15 PDT 20 SUBJECT: no subject 14 SEP 01 Dear Sixth Fleet Family: While all Sixth Fleet ships are still underway today, it came as good news to us that you are starting to resume daily activities back home in Gaeta. Schools were reopened and our family support facilities at the Fleet and Family Service Center and at Naval Support Activity, Gaeta have returned to operating at normal work hours. While moving from Force Protection Condition Delta to Condition Charlie is a step in the right direction, I want to remind everyone that it's far too early to anticipate a return to what some may consider "normal." Our lives, and how we go about our daily business, have changed as a result of the attack on America. And while we all desire to return to a lifestyle free of fear and concerns for safety, we must continue to remain vigilant and keep Force Protection in the forefront of our minds. At the same time, we must remain compassionate and not let our moral fiber be broken down by the evil of those few who must be held responsible. I realize this is a delicate balance to achieve, but as First Lady Laura Bush said in a letter to all American school children, which will be available to our DoDDS students, "September 11 changed our world. But with each story of sorrow and pain comes one of hope and courage. As we move forward all of us have an opportunity to become better people and to learn lessons about heroism, love, compassion, as well as hope and courage. She said, "our nation is strong and our people resilient." We have a well-earned reputation for pulling together in the worst of times to help each other." Your family members here at sea are doing just that - pulling together. I'm confident you are as well back home. Let us resolve as President Lincoln said in his first Inaugural Address that the "...................better angels of our nature" arise from this experience. In fact, along those lines, there will be a Memorial Service conducted Monday evening at 5 p.m. in the Monte Orlando Chapel. Everyone is welcome to join and share this opportunity for fellowship and support. The ship's crew and Sixth Fleet staff, continue to go about their daily at-sea routines. The ship conducted flight operations and general training today, and tonight we'll even serve a special meal for everyone with a birthday in September. Today was the day we were supposed to pin anchors on the new Chiefs. We decided not to do it. We're saving that special occasion until we return home and can include our families and career partners. However, I can tell you that each and every one of them completed the CPO training superbly and is ready in all respects to assume their new leadership responsibilities as Chief Petty Officers in the Navy. We continue to draw strength in the knowledge that you know that you are always in our thoughts. We will continue to keep you informed. Sincerely, Gregory G. Johnson Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet Vice Admiral, United States Navy
======================================================
Dear Family: USS La Salle, and our embarked Sixth Fleet staff, ended our first day of this at sea period with a inter-faith Memorial Serviceon the flight deck. As we endeavor to gain some understanding of recent events, recapture the normal routine of our lives the opportunity to take a moment for reflection provided comfort to everyone. On a calm sea under a tranquil sunset we collectively expressed our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of so many innocent people, while resolving to reflect what is most resilient about our American spirit. Shortly before heading to the service I received news that our national tragedy has reached our own community. Sadly, one of the victims of Monday's attack on the Pentagon was our former La Salle Executive Officer, CDR Pat Dunn. Having served with Pat, Ican tell you firsthand that the Navy and the nation suffered a tremendous dramatic loss.We hold his dear family in our hearts and prayers during this difficult time. Through the years, the Navy in Gaeta has we have also shared that sense of family with our Italian neighbors. For us that sense of family It extends beyond the Navy and even crosses cultures. I have received countless expressions of condolence and support from support from leaders in our people in our local communities. In a letter from the Mayor of Formia, Dr. Antonio Miele said, "I express to you and the Sixth Fleet community my deep sorrow forthe victims and solidarity against the cowardly attack which hit our great friend, the American nation. This terrorist action is aimed against the values of democracy and freedom on which the peaceful coexistence of peoples is based." On behalf of theThe Mayor of Gaeta, (who is right now stranded in Boston) Dr. D Amante, Mr. Damiano Di Ciaccio alsoforwarded the Mayor's his condolences and deepest and sincere solidarity. He wrote, "a meeting of the City Council is requested by all of the political parties, to condemn this abominable attack which is a clear attempt against the inviolable, sacred and basic values of our civilization." Rest assured your family members at sea continue to be proud examples of professionalism.They have focused on the tasks at hand and I am confident they will continue to proceed in a safe, professional manner until we they return to Gaeta home to you .. As schools open tomorrow and we resume
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent to me by: Ken Churilla
Silicon Valley Web Directory
Show your support. Add
a flag to your webpage.
Printable US Flag Iron-ons
US Flags : United we Stand! : International Reaction : Liberties : Home
Want to help? : NEWS CNN.COM : Indianapolis Star
For Flag
Decals visit http://www.condocams.com/
$1.00 is donated to the Salvation Army for each sticker sold!
Thank you for visiting! God Bless us all.
3clarks.com
: