Free Republic's 9-11 100 Hours of Remembrance

Its a little more than 100 hours from the Second Anniversary of Start the World Trade Center Attack and the subsequent Strike on the Pentagon and the Crash in Pennsylvania. 100 hours seems to be a long time; however, it is barely enough to reflect and remember all those who perished on the ground and in the air. Each one of the victims has a story, a life, that if retold would take more than 100 hours to appreciate the richness of their stay on this earth before it was snatched away.

Since 911, there has been more sacrifice. More have taken from this earth – this time not in tragedy but in a quest for justice and the expansion of freedom. They were not helpless victims but Heroes of liberation for the Afghanis and Iraqis and protectors of our domestic security.

We would hope that you would take the time and reflect on the lives of those who died on 9-11 and those who have sacrificed their all since that day in these next 100 hours. Please contribute a post of reflection, a prayer, a memorial, a picture or even just a ping to your friends to let them know that 9-11 has not been ignored this year.

Artwork supports Pentagon Memorial by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
9/10/2003 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Lt. Col. Pam Hodge remembers the immediate sense of calm she felt when she heard the roar of the first armed F-16 Fighting Falcon arrive at the Pentagon after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"I felt like a little kid hearing his mother's voice," said Hodge, who is assigned to the secretary of the Air Force's office. "All of us were so confused and so unsure of what was happening. But somehow, when I heard that engine roar overhead, I knew that everything was going to be OK. Just hearing that plane calmed me right down."
Hodge was so moved by that moment she joined hundreds of co-workers at the Pentagon on Sept. 9 to purchase a signed, limited-edition print titled, "First Pass, Defenders Over Washington," by Rick Herter. The event was sponsored by Fort America, a Pentagon concession, with all proceeds to benefit the Pentagon Memorial Fund.
The painting is part of the Air Force art collection. It portrays Maj. Dean Eckmann from the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Fighter Wing, flying his F-16 over the burning Pentagon.
Signed, numbered prints of Herter's "Ground Zero, Eagles on Station" were also on sale. The painting depicts Lt. Col. Tim Duffy from the Massachusetts National Guard's 102nd Fighter Wing, as the first F-15 Eagle pilot to reach the World Trade Center site Sept. 11 to lock down the airspace over Manhattan.
While sales for both prints were steady, buyers at the Pentagon event tended to favor the Pentagon print because they said they felt such a personal connection to it.
Like Hodge, Army Lt. Col. Tom Cleary from said he remembers feeling tremendous relief Sept. 11 when he watched Eckmann's aircraft streak overhead.
"As bad as everything seemed at the moment, seeing that plane showed that we were able to react and that we were doing the right thing," Cleary said.
Cleary said he plans to hang the print at home to serve as a constant reminder of the lessons of Sept. 11, as much for his children as himself.
"Don't ever take anything for granted," he said. "This will be a constant reminder, something for me to pass on to my children."
Capt. Robert Birchum, who had been assigned here for just three months on Sept. 11, said he particularly likes the print because it shows American response at one of the country's most difficult moments.
"It shows our vulnerability, but it also shows our strength," he said. "Those pilots were ready to engage anything they encountered. To me, this painting represents our fortitude -- how we're still here standing strong, even after such a tragic event."
Jim Laychak, president of the Pentagon Memorial Fund, Inc., said profits from the sale will go toward the $20 million needed to build and maintain the Pentagon Memorial.
"It's great to be part of something like this," said Laychak, whose brother, David, was among 184 people killed in the Pentagon attack. "It's one more step toward reaching our goal so we can move forward with the memorial.
"I want to preserve something for my family, for the other families (and) for the nation," he said. "I look at this as a gift to the people (who) are left behind."

jriemer requested this be posted here also.

Active duty FReeper txradioguy asked that this be posted today.
MoJo2001 "designed" the post for him with help from Kathy in Alaska.

NEVER FORGET

Timeline of Events of Sept. 11^th 2001

September11News.com - Attack Images and Graphics. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and hijackings in the USA on the World Trade Center towers in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington D.C. The attack on America on 09-11-2001 is a day of infamy. September 11 News has captured the news event with archived news, images, photos, pictures, news graphics, headlines of the day, web site archives, and the world's reaction.

7:58 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 departs Boston for Los Angeles,

7:58 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175 departs Boston for Los Angeles,
carrying 56 passengers, two pilots, and seven flight attendants. The
Boeing 767 is hijacked after takeoff and diverted to New York.

7:59 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 11 departs Boston for Los
Angeles, carrying 81 passengers, two pilots, and nine flight
attendants. This Boeing 767 is also hijacked and diverted to New York.

8:01 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 carrying 38
passengers, two pilots, and five flight attendants, leaves Newark, N.J.,
for San Francisco.

8:10 a.m. - American Airlines Flight 77 departs Washington's
Dulles International Airport for Los Angeles, carrying 58 passengers,
two pilots, and four flight attendants. The Boeing 757 is hijacked
after takeoff.

8:46 a.m. - American Flight 11 from Boston crashes into the North
Tower at the World Trade Center.

9 a.m. – President Bush arrives at Sarasota, Fla., school for speech. White House chief of staff Andrew Card tells him a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center.

9:03 a.m. - United Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the South
Tower at the World Trade Center.

- U.S. Federal Aviation Administration shuts down all New
York area airports.

9:05 a.m. – President Bush is visiting a second-grade class when Card whispers to him that a second plane has struck the towers. President delays plans to address the tragedy, deciding to get more information first.

9:21 a.m. - Bridges and tunnels leading into New York City
are closed.

9:25 a.m. - All domestic flights are grounded by U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration.

9:30 a.m. – President Bush meets privately with National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, who briefs him. He delivers first remarks on the tragedy and asks for a moment of silence for the victims and their families.

9:45 a.m. - American Flight 77 crashes into The Pentagon.

10 a.m. – Aboard Air Force One en route to Louisiana, President Bush calls Vice President Dick Cheney and puts America's military on a high alert status. Sifts through reports from staff, including erroneous report that a car bomb had struck the State Department. Gets news that a plane has crashed near Pittsburgh.

10:05 a.m. - The South Tower at the World Trade Center collapses.

10:05 a.m. - The White House is evacuated.

10:10 a.m. - A large section of one side of The Pentagon collapses.

10:10 a.m. - United Flight 93 crashes in a wooded area in Pennsylvania, after passengers confront hijackers. On passenger, Todd Beamer calls his wife on a cell phone and tells her of the plan to over power the hijackers. The connection remains open after Beamer puts the phone down. Lisa Beamer hears her husband tell the other passengers "Let’s roll" signaling the start of the attack.

10:28 a.m. - The North Tower at the World Trade Center collapses.

11:40 a.m. – President Bush arrives at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., where he makes series of telephone calls from a general's conference room. Tells Cheney in telephone call, "It's the faceless coward that attacks." He also talks to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and New York Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

1 p.m. – President Bush speaks to the country from a briefing room at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. (text below)

"I want to reassure the American people that the full resources of the federal government are working to assist local authorities to save lives and to help the victims of these attacks. Make no mistake: The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts.

I've been in regular contact with the Vice President, the Secretary of Defense, the national security team and my Cabinet. We have taken all appropriate security precautions to protect the American people. Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status, and we have taken the necessary security precautions to continue the functions of your government.

We have been in touch with the leaders of Congress and with world leaders to assure them that we will do whatever is necessary to protect America and Americans.

I ask the American people to join me in saying a thanks for all the folks who have been fighting hard to rescue our fellow citizens and to join me in saying a prayer for the victims and their families.

The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake: We will show the world that we will pass this test. God bless."

1:15 p.m. –President Bush departs conference room for Air Force One in a camouflaged Humvee. Talks to Cheney again en route to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska and schedules a 4 p.m. meeting of his national security staff. Also talks to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. George Pataki. "I know your heart is broken and your city is strained and anything we can do, let me know," Bush says.

3:07 p.m. – President Bush arrives at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

4:36 p.m. – President Bush departs for Washington. En route, he calls first lady Laura Bush and says, "I'm coming home, see you at the White House." Works with aides on his prime-time speech.

6 p.m. (approx) - Leaders and members from both sides of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate make a joint statement on the attacks and end the press conference with the singing of "God Bless America".

7 p.m. – President Bush arrives at White House to prepare for address.

8:30 p.m. – President Bush speaks to nation from The Oval Office (text below).

"Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.

These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation.

Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.

America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.

Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could.

Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C., to help with local rescue efforts.

Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks.

The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow.

Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well.

The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts.

I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.

I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance.

America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism.

Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me."

This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.

Thank you. Good night and God bless America."

8:35 p.m. – Bush attends national security meeting.

10:21 p.m. – Meeting has ended. Secret Service radio squawks with news that Bush has gone home to bed: "Trailblazer. Second floor of the residence."

Lives Never Forgotten

The Pentagon & Flight 93 Washington & Shanksville		The World Trade Center New York City
Total Deaths All 9/11 Attacks	3,030	*Total Deaths WTC 9/11 Attack	2,801
Total Injured All 9/11 Attacks	2,337	Total Injured WTC 9/11 Attack	2,261
Total Deaths 9/11 Attack The Pentagon (Ground)	124	Firefighter Deaths WTC 9/11 Attack	343
Total Injured 9/11 Attack The Pentagon	76	Police Deaths WTC 9/11 Attack	75
American Airlines Flight 77 The Pentagon	64	American Airlines Flight 11 WTC North Tower	92
United Airlines Flight 93 Shanksville, PA	40	United Airlines Flight 175 WTC South Tower	65
*In December 2002 the Total Deaths from the WTC Attack was revised to 2,792.

"Where Were You On That September Day?"
Click

Where were you when the world stopped turning

On that September day

Were you in the yard with your wife and children

Or working on some stage in L.A.

Did you stand there in shock

At the sight of that black smoke

Rising against that blue sky

Did you shout out in anger and fear for your neighbor

Or did you just break down and cry

--written and performed by Alan Jackson

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want
He makes me lie in down n green pastures
He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul
He guides me in the path of righteousness
For His namesake
Yea though I walk through the valley in the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
For you are with me
Your rod and Your staff they comfort me
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows
Surely goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

This was compiled by txradioguy
He is currently serving America in the United States Army.
Please click on his name to send him a FReepmail
and a Thank You!

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Thank you, John, for your service to our country.

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