A Tribute to the United States of America,
Its People and Its Heroes
A CANADIAN'S TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES

This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing.  It touched me and I wanted to include it in our tribute.  He died in 1984, but he wrote the tribute to Americans after the Vietnam was in response to the lambasting the U.S.A. was receiving for their failures in the Vietnam war.
 
America:  The Good Neighbor

"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
 
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts.  None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.  When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris.  I was there.  I saw it.
 
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help.  This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes.  Nobody helped.  The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries.  Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.

I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane.  Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10?  If so, why don't they fly them?  Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American planes?  Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon?  You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios.  You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.  You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times - and safely home again.

You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at.  Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded.  They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them.  When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose.  Both are still broke.

I can name you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.  Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble?  I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
 
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around.  They will come out of this thing with their flag high.  And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.  I hope Canada is not one of those."

Stand proud, America!  Wear it proudly!!"
 
             THE WORDS
      by Christina Bondesen
"Where are the words?" we ask
To explain the devastation.
"Where are the words?" we ask
To express our deep frustration.
They took our friends and families
They took our sense of peace.
But they cannot take our faith
For it will never cease.
We will not bow to evil
We cannot let him win.
For if we give up fighting
The world will fall to sin.
We refuse to let that happen
We must not give in to fear.
For there are great powers at work
And God is very near.
He will see us through this
Of that I have no doubt.
God will stand beside us
And "Victory!" we will shout.
Our fallen brothers and sisters
Will never be forgotten.
We will fight the war for them
And never be downtrodden.
We pray for all the victims
And for those they left behind.
We pray for our nation
That they will not remain blind.
For Satan is behind this
That is plain to see.
There is only one way to fight him
And it's not with you or me.
God is the one in charge here
And we must turn to Him.
For guidance, comfort, strength
And how to fight for them.
The ones who remain lost to Him
The ones whose souls we need.
To join our fight to victory
And cause Satan to take heed.
He has not destroyed us
He will not prevail.
God will stand victorious
For in the Bible we've heard tell.
Of massive death and destruction
And still the strong survive.
To fight again another day
And reach the end alive.
To join him in the heavens
For all eternity.
And yet it can't be done
With only you or me.
So won't you join us now
In our battle against hate?
Come and walk beside Him
Before it is too late.
Watching the news all day long.
Seeing people scream and run from what's going on.
This is just a dream, I pray.
Mom, just wake me up, I say.
 
This is not a dream they say.
How can this be?
Can this be happening to me?
Why, oh why, do people die?
Just stop this, I say.
Just make this day go away.
 
I pray to God up above.
God please give them one more chance.
I'm sure that didn't mean to crash.
Lift their spririts high with you.
 
Bless every one that knew them, too.
Just hear them pleading on the streets
and everywhere in the United States.
Just listen to each plea, I pray.
Just make tomorrow a better day.
 
                                              Katie White
                                                      Age 13
                                                      9/13/01
A MESSAGE TO THE TERRORISTS
By Ken White
 
Attention Cowards!
Beware!! You have now bitten off more than
you can ever hope to swallow!
Prepare to Choke!   Prepare to Die!
You say you are not afraid to die for your
idiotic causes! Well, that's a good thing for
you, because now you will get to do just that!
Die!
Your worst nightmares are now coming to life!
You have angered the Sleeping Giant! The
United States of America and its allies will
now devote their attentions to activities
that you will allow your deathwish fantasies
to come true! Aren't you happy?
We will smoke out your mole holes, your ant beds,
your beehives; ALL of your so-called safe houses!
Time is NOT a factor now! Slowly, stealthily, accurately, professionally, intelligently, wisely, unexpectedly, we will come!
And then you will no longer be able to hide!
Your brand new lifestyle is one of fear; of looking
constantly over your shoulder! Or, perhaps, since you like to die, your new lifestyle is a happy one! Rejoice!
Be afraid! Be very afraid!
Or, perhaps, since you like to die, be happy!
Be VERY happy! Your wishes will soon come true!
Yours truly,
The People of The United States of America
and our Friends
P.S.
In the meantime, if you would like some interesting reading, we have a suggestion!  Read up on all you can find about United States Marine Recon units, Army Ranger Units, and Navy Seal units! You'll probably want to know a little about these fellows because they will soon be dropping by to say 'Hello!'

 

America is watching!!!!
One of the first of what I'm sure will be many editorials taken from the Miami Herald
 
by Leonard Pitts, Jr.
September 13, 2001.

They pay me to tease shades of meaning from social and  cultural issues, to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul. But in this  moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say,  the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster. You beast. You unspeakable bastard.
 
What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us?
What was it you hoped we would learn?
Whatever it was, know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause? You just damned it.
Did you want to make us fear? You just steeled our resolve.
Did you want to tear us apart? You just brought us together.
 
Let me tell you about my people. We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, cultural, political and class division, but a family nonetheless. We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse.
 
We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement. We are fundamentally decent, though -- peace-loving and compassionate. We struggle to know the right thing and to do it. And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God.

Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak.  You're mistaken. We are not weak. Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.

Yes, we're in pain now. We are in mourning, and we are in shock. We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot from a Tom Clancy novel.

Both in terms of the awful scope of its ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, indeed, the history of the world. You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.
 
But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall. This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain. When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force.  When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the  pursuit of justice. I tell you this without fear of contradiction. I know my people, as you do not. What I know reassures me. It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.
 
In days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms. We'll go forward from this moment sobered, chastened, sad. But determined, too. Unimaginably determined.

There is steel beneath this velvet.  That aspect of our character is seldom understood by those who don't know us well. On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold. As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

Still, I keep wondering what it was you hoped to teach us. It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred.  If that's the case, consider the message received.

And take this message in exchange: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're about. You don't know what you just started.
 
But you're about to learn.
 
 
 
"Harry got up
Dressed all in black
Went down to the station
And he never came back
They found his clothing
Scattered somewhere down the track
And he won't be down on Wall Street
in the morning

He had a home
The love of a girl
But men get lost sometimes
As years unfurl
One day he crossed some line
And he was too much in this world
But I guess it doesn't matter anymore
 
In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute
Things can get pretty strange
In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute
 
Lying here in the darkness
I hear the sirens wail
Somebody going to emergency
Somebody's going to jail
If you find somebody to love in this world
You better hang on tooth and nail
The wolf is always at the door

In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute
Things can get a little strange
In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute

And in these days
When darkness falls early
And people rush home
To the ones they love
You better take a fool's advice
And take care of your own
One day they're here;
Next day they're gone
 
I pulled my coat around my shoulders
And took a walk down through the park
The leaves were falling around me
The groaning city in the gathering dark
On some solitary rock
A desperate lover left his mark,
"Baby, I've changed. Please come back."
 
What the head makes cloudy
The heart makes very clear
The days were so much brighter
In the time when she was here
But I know there's somebody somewhere
Make these dark clouds disappear
Until that day, I have to believe
I believe, I believe
 
In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute
You can get out of the rain
In a New York minute
Everything can change
In a New York minute..."
 
                                                       - Don Henley
Light a cyber candle for feedom and in remembrance of the people who died
A Flag & A Prayer
 
We come against this enemy that has attacked our country.  No weapon that  is formed against us shall prosper.  We pray for the families of  those who  have lost loved ones in these attacks.  We pray for our President and all  the great leaders of this country that you will give them wisdom.
 
We pray for Divine intervention and ask your favor for America.
Thank you for your protection from further attacks.  Comfort the  hearts of  the people.
 
In Jesus Name,
Amen
 
I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.
 
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected - and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox.
I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne
Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea
and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me.
I was there.
I led my troops,
I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me and I was
proud.
 
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries,
I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.
 
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle - it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am strong.
 
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud.
 
An e-mail my 23 year old niece received from friends in Canada after the tragedy.
People do care!
 
"Hey Jen. I just wanted to extend my deepest condolences for what happend on Tuesday. Words cannot express the concern that Canadians have over the sadness and grief that your nation is experiencing. However, despite all this evil, one thing remains true, more than ever -your country remains a pillar of strength to all mankind, and you give all people the inspiration and courage to fight against the evils of the world. May God bless you, your family, and your nation in your time of need."
Love........your Canadian friends

September 11, 2001
WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
 
Miss Lana's Thoughts on Our Nation's Challenge

          I feel the same shock, sadness and anger that all of us feel by the recent despicable acts of terrorism on New York, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania.  I mourn with the rest of the country and world, the needless loss of life and destruction.  There are no words to describe what we witnessed this past week (September 11, 2001) and how it has affected our country and the world.
 
          But I also feel very strongly that we must stop these individual attacks within our own cities against Muslim and Islamic people.  We must remember that there were people from several countries that perished in these tragedies.  We must remember that not all people are evil...that there are good people and bad people in all walks of life.  Example?  Timothy McVeigh.  It IS NOT our responsibility as U.S. citizens to retaliate against our own people- no matter their race, creed, nationality or religion.   We must not stoop to the level of our enemies. This is America...home of the brave, land of the free.   It is what we are SUPPOSED to represent!
 
It IS our responsibility as citizens of our great country to help those victims and families that have been directly affected by these horrendous crimes, to support the heroic efforts of the people that remain determined to salvage any life that may be left under the rubble, and to support our government and its leaders.  It is not just "an eye for an eye"...it is a campaign that we must employ to end terrorism all over the world.
 
We must remain steadfast in our faith in God and our faith in our government and military forces that justice will be served, and our values and beliefs will be preserved.  We owe it to our forefathers that fought and died for our freedom, for our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers who now suffer physically and psychologically from warfare in Viet Nam and Desert Storm.  We owe it to our children, our children's children, and their children.  We owe it to all the victims and their families and heroes in the recent attacks on our country.  We owe it to ourselves.

My father spent over twenty years in the military and served in three wars in order to protect America and what she represents.  When I was a kid, I thought it was cool that my daddy flew in military planes all over the world.  What I didn't know then were the dangers he faced in doing his job, making a living for his family and that it was quite possible that he might leave one day for work and not come home.  Thank God I did not realize this as a child.  But the point is that all of us have had family in the military and some of us still do.  We know that we will have to make many sacrifices to build our military.  These are the people we must trust and support in any way we can.

I finally heard the words that I've been dreading to hear but knew was inevitable- President Bush telling the USA and the world that "we are at war".   Do I agree?  Oh, yes!  We have no choice; there was never a question.

The way our nation's leaders handle this campaign will directly affect the future of America.  It will set the stage for what the future holds for our country and the world.  We must be prepared for what this might mean for our country and its citizens.  We must be prepared for more loss of life of our own and others.  We must be prepared that our own nation may see more despair even more shocking than what we experienced on September 11th.

Please continue to pray for the victims and their families of this week's crimes and the heroes whose determination and "can-do" spirit never fades.  Continue to pray for our government and its leaders...continue to pray for our enemies...continue to pray for our nation and its people.  We must find a way to calm our fears, to clear our hearts, minds and souls of the hate and anger we feel.  We must find the strength, the determination and the tenacity it's going to take to withstand a war...a war that could very well land in our own backyards before it's over.  It will not be easy or quick.  It will take a toll on us like many of us have never experienced.  We must reach deep within the roots of our values and beliefs and declare that NO ONE and NOTHING is going to take away what we have spent 200+ years building...a free democratic nation that prides itself on being one of the strongest and greatest countries in the world.

As in the words of my father, "We didn't start this, but we can damn sure finish it!"

Let's all show the world what the United States of America is really made of...what it really means to be "united"...why we are so proud to be Americans....let's show everyone (good and evil) that we will overcome this challenge and become even stronger.
 
                                                                                                                                   Sincerely,
                                                                                                                                   Miss Lana

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!
God bless America!

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Lord Hear Us Pray
It wasn't even cold when they wore those trench coats to school.
Said they were paying back for things they had endured.
What drove those boys that far no one could really say.
A Colorado schoolyard woke to thunder.  Our nation stopped to pray.
He walked into the church.  Without warning opened fire.
No one really knew him.  No one could tell us why.
We searched for answers and the reasons for his rage.
Ft. Worth woke to thunder.  Our nation stopped to pray.
We watched it all on T.V. with disbelief in what we saw.
This was never supposed to happen.  Not on American soil.
We sighed a big relief when they caught the man McVeigh.
Oklahoma City woke to thunder. Our nation stopped to pray.
It's said what dosen't kill us will only make us strong.
We gathered up the pieces and somehow carried on.
We lost a little freedom.  We'd never be the same.
We looked in the face of evil.  Our nation stopped to pray.
We didn't see it coming.  Our fears had just come true.
Hell was raining down.  Out of skies of blue.
Airplanes used as missles.  We watched it all that day.
Where buildings once stood tall, now just empty space.

 Our people came together to help each other and grieve.
Full of fear and anger but mostly disbelief. 
With a great and true resolve this evil we shall tame.
Our Nation woke to thunder.  The world stopped to pray.

O Lord give us peace.  Touch us with your healing hand.
This nation under God we call the Promised Land.
Shine your light upon our shores.  We'll let you lead the way.
This evil must be stopped.  Dear lord hear us pray.

                                                                 Randy Hopper and Tim Moody

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