Remembering the blood of Heroes

When we refer to dates in this world, a significant majority of the time, when we are speaking in terms of 'public events' and 'history', we use a year. It gives us a context to the 'history' around the situation we are discussing, and perhaps some small insight in to the people who were involved in the situation. A useful way of discussing the past, don't you think? Certainly.

But there is one date I do not think anyone of the past two (if not in some rare cases, three) generations of these United States of America will ever have to be given a year to recognize. We often refer to it as two numbers.

Two numbers that also represent 'emergency' to us in another sense, ironic as that is.

Nine-eleven.

I believe that most everyone reading this will know what day I am referring to. The day that the Twin Towers of the 'City (and the Pentagon of our nation's capital, Washington D.C.)were hit by hijacked airplanes and sent our feelings of safety and security within our borders straight to hell.

The al-Quaeda were not slow about claiming responsibility, and they gloated in their feelings of superiority. They had, as far as they were concerned, committed an act that would bring them extraordinary glory in the eyes of their G-d. The murder of countless innocents, both in the planes they had taken and from the Towers themselves, was not an act they felt any guilt for - after all, those were blasphemers and uncivilized animals who did not follow the true faith... they, by the beliefs of the al-Quaeda's faith, deserved no less than to suffer horribly before they died and were sent to Hell.

Photographs and videos capable to this day of generating extraordinary horror can be seen in so many different places, in so many different ways. The photos are something that choke me up, and the video is not something I am capable of watching without to this day crying my eyes out, inside if not out. Images of people flinging themselves out windows, rather than face the collapse of the towers... and then having to watch the collapse, realizing that every person still inside, direct victim of the attack or attempting rescuer, would not be coming out.

President Barack Obama talks about 'National Service Day'... forgive me now, but President Obama has NO concept of what 'service' really is, or what it entails.

I do not think that any of us do.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, rescue personnel all over Long Island (in Suffolk, Nassau or otherwise...) and on the Island of Manhattan woke likely hoping for a normal day like any other - perhaps there would be some 'small' situations that would require their assistance. Perhaps a fire, or a car accident. Perhaps there would be the need for some police to break a fight up, or investigate the aftermath of a burglary.

Then the alerts came in, and those men and women sprang in to action. I can guarantee to you they were probably afraid when they found out what was going on - I know I would certainly have been - but they swallowed their fear and remembered the importance of their duty, both to themselves and to the people they served. Their sirens blared, and the engines, ambulances and police cars raced toward the Twin Towers with their guns figuratively blazing.

Did any of them realize they wouldn't be coming home? I can't say for sure. I wasn't there, and even if I were, I am certainly no mind-reader. The only thing I can say for certain is that without thought for the sacrifice they might be making, those men and women launched themselves into a pair of burning towers that were doing a good impression of Hell at the time.

Can you imagine how enormous their fear must have been? I certainly cannot, other than to say that I probably would have been unable to go in myself, as much as I always say to friends that if I had been there, that I would have tried. I am certainly no coward, but the kind of bravery it takes to run in to ANY burning building is enormous, and going in to one there is NO chance of coming out of... I certainly could not.

I pray with all my heart that what happened on 9/11/2001 never, ever happens again in this country, because the cost was more than I think we could have ever stood to pay in the first place... but it would seem to me that part of our nation has already forgotten we paid it.

'National Service Day'. Obama seems to think that empty, paltry gestures are an acceptable, appropriate way to remember the remarkable deeds of our past, and the selfless, heroic men and women who have proceeded us through the gates of Heaven.

I would say, Mister President, that you have an extraordinary deal to learn before you will ever understand what it means to be a 'real' American...

Much less a hero.