I realize now that this is a serious thread. Can I add something else?
There is A Wonderful Tribute Here by a NY man named Steve Golding. He also wrote the following (Bold added):
This has been a work-in-progress and began the day after the attack at the World Trade Center and Pentagon. I survived the attack itself by being late to work that day, but I lost many people who were not so lucky. I created the page to honor those I lost, those that America had lost and all of those dedicated, caring human beings who responded to this wanton cowardly act and who we refer to simply as heroes.
This has effected me to the core of my soul. My soul cries out for those that I lost, those I didn't know, for my city, for the Pentagon, for the nation. The page has evolved to what it is now; a remembrance of those that were taken, those who sacrificed their lives in order to sustain our national resolve. We must remember what it is our nation is responding to and keep our flag waving proudly.
Since September 11, I have had the sensation of shaking on the inside and I frequently hold out my hands to make sure that I am not shaking. I suppose that it will subside with time. I know that we will overcome this dark, dark tragedy but I don't think that we will get over it. And I am not too sure that we should ever get over it. We live in a free society but with that freedom comes responsibility. It is our responsibility to continue forward, not allowing these horrific events to change our lives; otherwise the sub-human animals that perpetrated this on us wins.
For those of you who view this as "an opportunity to cease the cycle of violence," I want to remind you that there were 8,000 elementary school children, in grades pre-K through the 5th grades, that had to be evacuated from schools they attended in the shadows of the twin towers - some of whom had parents that worked in one of the 5 buildings that came down; Some of which no longer have mommies, daddies or both. Once we avenge their deaths, once we adequately respond to the worst attack on US soil, then, perhaps, you can talk to me about stopping the cycle of violence, because as far as I am concerned, that is exactly what we are doing right now - making sure that the world knows that when you do this to the United States, you risk unleashing a wrath that you never, ever dreamed of.
We must never forget September 11, America's Day of Emergency, we must remember that there is a price for freedom and a responsibility to freedom. It is our responsibility to defend freedom. Last item and I will get off my soap box: We did not ask for this war. We did not start this war. We will finish this war. We must because if we do not, the message we send is that it is OK to kill thousands of our countrymen and we don't have the resolve to see justice done.
I am humbled by the demand for this page and am deeply, deeply grateful for the overwhelming support for it.
God Bless New York. God Bless Virginia. God Bless America. We will prevail.
Regards,
Steve Golding
Executive Director, PoW/MIA Forum www.powforum.org