by Sandi Durell – – –

We will never forget 9/11 . . . September 11, 2001 when our country was attacked by extremists . . . al Qaeda terrorists flying four airplanes carrying out suicide bomb attacks into the Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.- – one plane crashing in a field in Pa. Nearly 3000 people died and we were left in sheer and utter confusion trying to understand the mental and emotional impact that, to this very day, continues as a veil of sadness and anger . . . Our streets in ruble as the many fleeing the Twin Towers looked back in horror to see the buildings crumbling knowing how many were about to perish. Our first responders rushing toward this unforgettable nightmare thinking about nothing other than saving lives.

Each of us has our own memory knowing exactly where we were and the personal impact stamped forever in our minds.

Twenty years later, as we are about to commemorate those who died with an even greater awareness of how precious our lives and our country are, we are faced with the continued knowledge that we must NEVER FORGET but continue our vigilance against those who wish to do us harm, to annihilate our country and our way of life here in these United States of America.

Some poignant songs that come to mind include: “America the Beautiful ” (Katharine Lee Bates/Samuel A. Ward)

“Oh beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee and crown they good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea . . .”

And always David Friedman’s “We Can Be Kind” – a message to all

So many things you can’t control
So many hurts that happen everyday
So many heartaches that pierce the soul
So much pain that won’t ever go away

How do we make it better?
How do we make it through?
What can we do when there’s nothing we can do?

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we’ll find
If we are there for each other
That together we’ll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

Nobody really wants to fight
Nobody really wants to go to war
If everyone wants to make things right
Then what are we always fighting for?

Does nobody want to see it?
Does nobody understand?
The power to heal is right here in our hands.

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we’ll find
If we are kind to each other
That together we’ll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

And it’s not enough to talk about it
Not enough to sing a song
We must walk the walk about it
You and I
Do or die
We’ve got to try to get along

We can be kind
We can take care of each other
We can remember that deep down inside
We all need the same thing
And maybe we’ll find
If we are kind to each other
That together we’ll weather whatever tomorrow may bring

And maybe we’ll find
True peace of mind
If we always remember
We can be kind.