I’m praying today. I’m remembering. I’m committing this nation in prayer to our Blessed Mother, the Patroness of the Americas. Let us pray for America’s leaders that they might have renewed resolve to fight terror threats and fight for the dignity of human persons everywhere.
“Terror attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot shake the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”
– President George W. Bush-
“The moment to spend with a husband who loves me, or a sick friend, or a delicious new grandchild is here and now. Not some time later …. The nation learned this lesson all at once that horrible day in September 2001. The pictures stay with us — the fires and falling debris, and, most hauntingly, the faces. Look how young so many of them were, people who thought there would be much more time, a lot of ‘later’ when they could do all the things they really wanted to do. I grieve for their families — especially for those, like me, who haven’t found any trace of the people they loved. But I grieve even more for the people who died that day. They couldn’t know what we know now about the precious gift of time.”
– Cokie Roberts- contributing senior news analyst for NPR News-
Sept. 11, 2001, stands as the defining event of the 21st century. For me, 9/11 remains puzzling. It was the worst day of my life and the best day. It was the worst day because of the incomprehensible death, destruction and evil. Very soon after the attacks, we began to understand the threat posed by Islamic extremist terrorism.
Sept. 11 was also the best day because it put on display the very finest human instincts — compassion, courage, kindness, selflessness. First responders rushed into what they knew was a life-threatening emergency. Neighbors helped neighbors, and aid poured from good people all over the country and the world.
When people endure a traumatic event, they are either defeated or made stronger. On Sept. 11, I told New Yorkers, “I want you to emerge stronger from this.” My words were partially a hope and partially an observation that people in New York City handle big things better than little things. I could not be more proud of the way my city responded.
– Rudi Giuliani, former NYC mayor-
