Dateline Grapevine, Texas ...December 11, 2001

Last week, I heard the Reverend Billy Graham say that, "Sometimes, words are not enough."  And, hasn’t that been the case for all of us?  It’s taken me this long to begin to recover from the shock and sort out my feelings about the event on September 11.

Each of us has been so dramatically affected by recent events.

How many of us will ever forget where we were and what we were doing on the morning of September 11, 2001?  The images are scorched into our brains as, here in Texas and across in the nation, we watched our televisions in horror and disbelief as we saw the result of first ill-fated plane that had crashed into the World Trade Center Tower.  And then, the horrible became hellish as, before our eyes, the second plane pierced the second of our nation’s landmark
twin towers.

Then, the third blow, at the heart of our nation’s defenses, the Pentagon. It was nothing less than blunt force trauma to our psyche.

Next the plane in Pennsylvania.  How much more could we take?  Where would it stop?

I remember, as I stood before our television in a state of shock — worried and wondering how will the firemen rescue the people from the heights of those burning buildings.  And, then, unbelievably, it got worse. 

In our worst nightmares, who could have imagined the horror of the images of those pillars of strength turning to dust, debris and melting metal as they collapsed on the heroes below? 

And at that moment, thousands of unsuspecting, innocent souls vanished from this life. The heroes who raced to the rescue only to find their fate in the fiery avalanche of death that day deserve to be honored.

Their sacrifice is no less significant to our nation than those who have and do deliberately fight to protect freedom and liberty in our nation.  Most Americans watched from afar and were DRAMATICALLY affected by the events of September 11th.  Each of us was affected in different ways.  I could hardly sleep at all for two weeks.

Just imagine the trauma and shock to those who were THERE — the guilt of those who survived and wonder why it is THEY who live, when their friends and coworkers perished that day. 

Most of us can only imagine the tremendous sense of loss of the husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, the children - of those who didn’t get to say, "Good-bye," before they forever lost part of their life with their loved one who perished.  So many of these families are left in limbo as they don’t even have the physical remains of their loved one to bury so that closure can happen.

The people of New York and Washington D.C. need spiritual help.

When America’s remaining heroes heard the lyrics written by Bedford couple, Becky James and John Taylor (to the music of Sarah McLachlan’s 1997 hit, Angel) – when they listened to the haunting melody of Becky’s angelic voice — it touched and comforted their broken hearts and spirits.

So much so, that they responded with a request for fifteen thousand copies so that all the victims could use the 911 Angel song as a source of solace during their difficult time.

That’s what the 911 Angel CD project is about, to offer comfort to honor every member of the fire departments, police departments and the family of each victim of the 9/11 tragedy.

With the cooperation of the Fire Departments of Bedford, New York, Texas and the Federation of Fire Chaplains, many local, those companies providing food and lodging along the way, and those who are traveling from Texas to Washington and New York, to personally deliver the CDs, their generosity will offer help to soothe the souls of the victims and their families.

They are to be commended for their compassion and generosity.

It was not only natives of our nation who were affected by these acts of terror.  Many other nations lost loved ones on 9/11, as well.  In fact, the world was affected.

And, it is the entire world that is watching as the people of this nation pull together as they have never before!

On that fateful day, President Bush said, "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America.  These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of
American resolve."

These acts, meant to destroy our nation, have in fact made it stronger.  As evidenced by the 911 Angel project, and so many others, the people of our nation are pulling together as never before.

These events have brought us BACK TO CENTER.  Before September 11th, our heroes were too often sports figures.  Now they are fire fighters and police – a mayor, and our President.  And THAT is as it should be.

We no longer dwell on or distinguish our differences — we see our sameness. Regardless of color or religion, we all are AMERICANS.  And, we will not allow the cowardly acts of terrorists to destroy the essence of our great nation.

The United States is the "gold standard" for freedom and liberty, and the world is watching now as we recover and grow stronger from this tragic experience. 

As President Bush said, "The world is beginning to understand why we all treasure America so much — our values, our freedom and the strength of the American character."

Now, we are focused on what REALLY matters — faith, family, and friends. These horrific events have brought so many back to God.  And, it is through God that the surviving victims and loved ones, our heroes, and we will know justice and peace.

We are reminded that life is fragile, and we have learned that NOW is the time to say the words to a loved one so that they WON’T GO UNSAID before we are separated by death. 

We know that we CANNOT WAIT — NOW is the time to touch the face of a family member or friend, and to take the hand of a child and say to them and show them, "I love you."

We KNOW that, as New York Governor George Pataki put it, "Ultimately, the courageous and resilient spirit of our people will prevail over this cowardly act of hatred."

It is that resilient and generous spirit of our people we see demonstrated in a compassionate act to deliver comforting music to our grieving friends far away.  May these gifts console and comfort those in need.

(The 911 Angel CD project is a nonprofit mission to donate a free 911 Angel CD to each and every member of the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and Pentagon, as well as to every family of a 9/11/01 victim.  The CDs are being delivered, but the debt for producing the music remains.  For more information, visit their website at Click Here to see the 911 Angel site.

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