After that day...Our world became a much different place.
This September 11th was very inspiring. I watched the memorial service and as the Brooklyns Childrens Choir sang the National Anthem.
All I could think about was "America is truly the home of the brave!" We lost many lives that day. Some didn't have a choice whether they would live or die...and many did have that choice! Flight 93 Fought back...All of the fire fighters and police officers tried to save as many lives and died trying to save as many as they could.
I watched Vice President Biden give a memorial speech and words of comfort to those heroes lost that day:
"That your loved ones, those who you lost, who we now call heroes, were already heroes. They were already heroes to you"I hope, truly hope, they felt that way.
He went on to say these inspiring words:
"It was a declaration of war by stateless actors -- bent on changing our way of life -- who believed that these horrible acts of terror -- these horrible acts of terror directed against innocents could buckle our knees, could bend our will, could being to break us and break our resolve.
But they did not know us. Instead, that same American instinct that sent all of you into the breach between the 4th and 5th corridors, galvanized an entire new generation of patriots —- the 9/11 Generation.
Many of them were just kids on that bright September morning. But like their grandparents on December 7, 1941, they courageously bore the burden that history had placed on their shoulders.
And as they came of age, they showed up -- they showed up to fight for their country, and they're still showing up. Two million, eight hundred thousand of that 9/11 Generation moved to join our military since the attacks on 9/11, to finish the war begun here that day.
And they joined -- they joined knowing that they were in all likelihood going to be deployed in harm’s way -— and in many cases deployed multiple, multiple times in Afghanistan and Iraq and other dangerous parts of the world.
Those of you, Admiral, who command this building turned this generation, this 9/11 Generation into the finest group of warriors the world has ever known.
And one more thing about this 9/11 generation of warriors -- never before in our history has America asked so much, over such a sustained period, of an all-volunteer force. So I can say without fear of contradiction, or being accused of exaggeration, the 9/11 Generation ranks among the greatest our nation has ever produced. And it was born -- it was born -- it was born right here on 9/11.He is truly right on when he talks about the 9-11 volunteers...We have family, friends that we consider family who have stepped up to volunteer to keep us safe.
My prayer for you is that, 10 years later, when you think of them -- 10 years later when you think of them that it brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye.
My mom used to say that courage lies in every man’s heart, and her expectation was that one day -- one day it would be summoned. Well, here, on September 11, 2001, at exactly 9:37 a.m., it was summoned. It was summoned from the hearts of the thousands of people who worked here to save hundreds. It was summoned in the hearts of all those first responders who answered the call. For courage lies deepest in and beats the loudest in the heart of Americans. Don't forget it. We will not forget them."
I want to personally thank the following men in my life currently serving this great nation:
- Hector Ruiz
- Joshua Linares
- Tim Matheson
- Seth Carter
- Jay Welihan
I saw the video below as a commercial...and absolutely loved it! I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I do!
I love how at the end....It's made by State Farm :)
