Today is Sept. 11, 2008 ... the 7th anniversary of the day a bunch of terrorist thugs hijacked four U.S. planes and crashed them into three pretty damn important buildings. The fourth plane went down in Pennsylvania after a group of patriotic civilians overthrew the hijackers to the last known utterance of one Todd Beamer: "Let's Roll." Thrice before in my journalistic career, I've had the chance to cover a commemoration of the event. This one was definitely the most poignant and meaningful. There are likely several reasons for this: For one, a retired lieutenant colonel from the Air Force explained what it was like to be in the Pentagon when American flight 77 struck its walls and shattered the foundation. It was only the second time in seven years he's been able to talk about it, and the first time publicly. It was an incredibly moving presentation.
Photo 1 of three of a massive sand sculpture commissioned by the "Triple Crown of Cripple Creek" for Military Appreciation week. As you'll see in the other two photos, they honor the infantry and airborne divisions. On a snarky note, this sculpture - while breathtaking - is also proof positive that some people have WAY too much time on their hands. Nonetheless, pretty amazing.
But more importantly, it really struck home to me how close we came to danger when I did a call-in to our station to report from the scene. It was during the morning talk show hosted by my very talented friend and colleague, Richard Randall. He was having people call in and tell him where they were when the planes crashed and the towers fell. After I wrapped up my 60 second news sounder, Richard asked me that same question. The answer ... I was in Chicago where I attended graduate school. As I sat on my futon staring aghast at the television, I got a call from my brother Kelsey. A lieutenant in the Navy, he somehow managed to get through to our older brother, Jason, who was working for a congressman at the time in Washington, D.C. Kels informed me Jason was safe and said "Get out of the city, whatever you do, get out. We think the Sears Tower is a target."
I still get chills when I think about how vulnerable we all were that day. Hearing testimony from the soldiers who have been overseas, who have fought this war on behalf of civilians like me, and who have shed their blood to keep us free and to protect us all from tyranny and unnamed evil, I can only say "Let's roll."
Where were you on 9.11.2001? If you feel like sharing, please ... use your first amendment rights and post away.
All I ask is regardless of your political affiliation or thoughts on the war, don't forget that Democrat or Republican, blue or red, we are all Americans first. If you see a soldier, a firefighter, paramedic, police officer or any other uniformed may (with maybe the exception of the UPS guy) working to protect us, thank that person for all he or she does. You'll be amazed how far it goes to put a smile on his or her face.
Let's roll.
Three years married on Oct. 1 and still so cute! Or, as the song goes, "Still crazy after all these years."
Find a tree, hug a tree. Damn hippies!
Would you like some fries with your homestead?
Yes, these are our initials; but I assure you we did not do the carving. I hug trees, remember?
We love each other like crazy. Almost as much as we love self-portraits!
