Return to Where the Eagle II Has Landed!

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Brownsville, Texas

WE WILL REMEMBER

December 7, 1941 - Ask anyone over the age of 65 where they were on this date and they will all be able to tell you exactly what they were doing and where they were when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

November 22, 1963 - A generation later, another moment in time. I remember when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I remember being in 4th grade and suddenly we were all taken to the gymnasium to wait for the school buses to take us home. I remember all the teachers were crying and there was a strange tension in the air. At the time, I didn't know why. When I got home, I found out.

September 11, 2001 - Another generation later. Mike had just left to go get the oil changed in the car. I switched on the TV to catch the morning news on CNN. At first I thought I had gotten the channel wrong and turned on a movie instead.

The surreal scene before me was of smoke and flames billowing from one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City. As my mind grasped the fact that I had indeed tuned in to CNN, I watched in horror as an explosion appeared to rock the second tower.

America had been attacked. My first reaction was grief, for the death toll would be high. Life in our great country would never be the same. How would we as a people deal with these events?

Mike and I spent the rest of the day and far into the night glued to the TV set, watching events unfold in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. We watched with pride as Americans rushed to the scenes to aid the victims. We watched with relief as well-laid plans (those we had hoped would never need to be implemented) were launched to protect the leaders of our country. We watched as our ideals of freedom and democracy, compassion and strength, pride and determination were all maintained.

We watched as millions of American flags were flown in support of our country, as prayer services were conducted around the globe, as candles were lit in remembrance. We joined in as the millions of us proclaimed that we are proud to be Americans!

We will remember this date and where we were and what we were doing. We will remember the quick reactions of Americans during a crisis, the determined, dust-streaked faces of the folks desperately trying to rescue friends, neighbors & total strangers from the rubble. We will remember the heroism of people on the ground and in the air. We will remember the day freedom and democracy were attacked. We will remember that the American Spirit has triumphed once again!

God Bless America!