Kiwanis remembers 911

Remembering 911 Editor: Mark B. Herring REMEMBER 9-11-01 "Our country was hit on 9-11-2001. Everybody in the world knows that. It hasn't been easy to deal with a different kind of enemy, but that is what we have a different kind of enemy." Kay Bailey Hutchison    Pearl Harbor, Kennedy's assassination and now 9-11 are all dates that we wish we could forget or days that we wish had never happened, but they� are dates that will forever be impressed in our minds and hearts.� Life changing events ! How do and how have we responded to these events that in� some form or fashion reshaped our lives ? Not only as a country, but as a community and a family and as individuals.� Toto we are not in Kansas anymore. Gone is an innocence that still existed in our country somewhat, that the Europeans had lost about 90 years earlier with the start of WWI and then remindedof it again some 30 years later with the start of WWII.� My childhood days which were not all that long ago were made up of leaving the house after eating breakfast to go and play (have an adventure) with a neighbor.� We may ride our bikes to the other side of town and back but as long as we were back bylunch that was fine.� We would eat lunch and then back out again on another "adventure" that would last until suppertime.� This would go on all summer and my Mom would not worry about where I was or what I was doing, that was just life in Carrollton in the 60s.� We would sleep with our windows wide open, our doors unlocked and probably the keys out in the car so we wouldn't loose them.� Life was good. But then the days of Camilot would start to change as Carrollton grew but we still had it better than most places.� Until 9-11-01 when all of America changed that day and has forever changed.� Let's remember what happened that day. It was a day like any other day; people were just living life going about their daily routines.� Then at 8:46am our livesbegan to change.� American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the north tower of the WorldTradeCenter, we all thought how awful and we were so sad for crew and passengers on that flight.� We were all trying to figure out what could have gone wrong with the plane to cause it to crash, but at 9:03am we realized that this was no accident when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the WorldTradeCenter.� All of a sudden our sadnesswent to fear.� What is happening ?� Are we under attack ?� Then moments later we heard of another problem; American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.� What is going on, our largest city has been attacked and OUR CapitalCity !� All commercial flights were ordered to the ground immediately, something that had never been done before in our country.� Then as we are all gathered around every TV or radio all in a state of shock, that this can't be real; this isn't happening in our country,� this only happens in other parts of the world.� At that time we hear of a fourth airliner,United Airlines Flight 93, crashing into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania (later we learn that they were heading for the Capitol building).� So what happened that day ?� A group of 19 terrorists that were Islamic extremists belonging to the al-Qaeda movement under the direction of Osamabin Laden attacked America by cowardly highjacking 4 commercial airlines and crashed them into 3 buildings and the fourth airliner was overtakenagain by the passengers and forced to crash in rural Pennsylvania.� 2,974 people were killed that day by cowards that hide behind innocent people,women and children to do their dirty deeds.� We can't forget what was done that day.� They took a part of every American's life from them that day, but we can't let them win.� We must go on, we are Americans.� Determination is what founded our country and determination will preserve it !� We are the envyof the World because of our freedoms.� It's our liberty that sets us apart from any other people and it's what makes us the target of so many people too. � DON'T GIVE IN AND DON'T FORGET !� � � REMEMBER 9-11-01 � � Mark Herring, Human and Spiritual Values Chair