September 11th

September 11th

*The bear figurine is copyright of Boyd's Bears, but I wanted to share the tribute they did in honor of the* *Heroes of September 11th. I knew right away I wanted to get one, and I'm glad I did.* *All profits went to the NY Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund.*
	I wasn't sure of having a tribute page to the devastating events that occurred on 9/11. But when I look back at photos such as this, I can't help but do something. My first time of seeing the World Trade Center was in March of 1985. My mother and I traveled to NYC from Colorado, and were very excited to see the big city. And when we were going to see the Statue Of Liberty, we were very taken by the magnificent height of the Twin Towers and the NYC skyline. The Statue Of Liberty was the one in need of repairs then; a face lift, if you will. Now the statue stands tall and proud, and the buildings that were so incredible in size are gone, along with so many innocent lives that went down with them. I will always remember the thrill of seeing them, and will treasure the time my mother and I shared looking at them in awe. My mother was the first person I called when I got home from work the day of the attacks. I couldn't believe the buildings were gone, and the NYC trip she and I had shared meant that much more to me. The hardest thing I had to do on September 11th was sing Happy Birthday to our seven-year-old daughter. She was doing disco dance movements ala' John Travolta the night before because she was so excited. It was very hard to celebrate when thousands had just died and no one knew what, if anything, was coming next. But it was something that we had to do for her. Unfortunately, because of the circumstances, I don't recall taking any pictures. So we lost the chance of having photos to remember her seventh birthday, except for the pictures we all see now of what was going on across the country. But we're the lucky ones. We're still here to celebrate when she turns eight this year. My heart goes out to those who lost friends and loved ones in NYC, as well as in DC and Pennsylvania.
Have to put in a word of thanks to the members of the military who are trying to keep our freedom intact. Having been in and associated with the Air Force myself, I know what it's like to put in long, grueling hours. . .it's not an easy task at all, and mine was in war training games, not the real thing. What the men and women in uniform are giving up for us to be secure is beyond putting a price tag on. They've done it all along, but we don't see it until something major happens that draws them into the spotlight. It's not easy for the family that stays here while the military member is in another country, either. I know when my husband was in Saudi Arabia for a few months, from December 1995 thru March 1996, I missed him terribly. They sent him right before Christmas. I knew he would be okay, as there was not a war going on. But can only imagine how the families feel now, knowing theirs are in a real war. These men and women are heroes in every sense of the word. I still get goose bumps when I hear The Air Force Song and think of an F-15 taking off in full burner. You can feel the rumble from the engines as the jet leaves the runway and it's awesome. I know some people were opposed to our military going over to Afghanistan and Iraq, but really, we had no choice. Not once we were attacked on our own soil. The country needs to continue supporting our men and women in uniform, and keep their families in their thoughts as well.
	Back in 1988, I was able to go to Washington DC at Christmas when I lived in Virginia. Although it has nothing to do with 9/11, I wanted to put up this picture because I remember the feeling I got when I stood before it then. It was a feeling of sadness, yet serenity. It was very moving and I noticed that everyone who came up to the grave became silent as it touched them in their own way. This is the Eternal Flame that burns continuously at JFK's gravesite in Arlington Cemetery. The other night on television they were discussing a memorial for where the Twin Towers once stood, and this image came to my mind. Maybe if we can all keep that eternal flame of hope burning inside of us, we'll be okay. . .we'll never forget, but we can try to make the future for the 9/11 babies and other children a less fearful and a much safer place to live.
"Let every Nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty" --John F. Kennedy-- ~*~ "We will not waiver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail." --George W. Bush Jr.--	Favorite Songs America, Why I Love Her by John Wayne (If you haven't heard this one by John Wayne, you should. It'll make you feel so inspired. The first time I heard it was while driving to take my daughter to school a day or so after the attacks. Some men on a road crew had an American Flag up along side the road and this song was playing on the radio as I passed the flag. Ever try to drive while you're eyes are tearing? But I loved the song.) Where Were You by Alan Jackson (This song is truly an inspired work by Alan Jackson.)

Many 9/11 tribute videos can be found on www.youtube.com

Artwork

Chelsea drew this the first week after the attacks. The lower corner is before, upper is after. This was a 7-year-old's view. She was drawing flags on everything. Even drew butterflies with the flag on their wings.

This is a painting my sister, Susan Tsoupakis, recently did. I wanted to share it.

By Chelsea September 2001

In Remembrance

They came down.
That day, that day.
The time passed so slowly,
yet so incredibly fast.
Disbelief gave way
to shock, to horror.
They came down.
Not long after the
first screaming impact,
last words whispered.
They came down.

My God, they came down.

--Vanessa Sgroi, 2004

Rhymes and Reasons

by John Denver

So you speak to me of sadness
And the coming of the winter
Fear that is within you now
It seems to never end
And the dreams that have escaped you
And the hope that you've forgotten
You tell me that you need me now
You want to be my friend

And you wonder where were going
Where's the rhyme and where's the reason
And its you cannot accept
It is here we must begin
To seek the wisdom of the children
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

Like the music of the mountains
And the colors of the rainbow
They're a promise of the future
And a blessing for today
Though the cities start to crumble
And the towers fall around us
The sun is slowly fading
And its colder than the sea

It is written from the desert
To the mountains they shall lead us
By the hand and by the heart
They will comfort you and me
In their innocence and trusting
They will teach us to be free

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

And the song that I am singing
Is a prayer to non believers
Come and stand beside us
We can find a better way

*This song is in no way related to 9/11. It just makes me think he would have written encouraging and thought provoking words such as this had it been around that time. It's just coincidence that it kind of fits the situation (in my mind). No copyright infringement is intended.

A crown my daughter made a few days after the attacks.

She was in first grade. I didn't know what to say to her when I

picked her up at school and she showed me.

I just wanted to cry. I still have it.

I Stare in Total Disbelief

Author Unknown

I stare in total disbelief,
heart torn with instant grief.
Plumes of black smoke fill the air,
marking a building no longer there.
I close my eyes, I want to pray,
but my mind doesn't know what to say.
Much like Pearl harbor, so many years ago,
so many gone with one fatal blow.
There are no words to explain,
there are no words to ease the pain.
To those who gave their lives,
Mothers, Fathers, Husbands and Wives,
to all who's lives today did cease,
may your soul find instant peace.
We will honor you and the life you gave,
as a Patriot of "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave."