Why was it that so many had to lose their lives in such a terrible and tragic way?

What did they ever do to anyone that was worth losing their lives on that terrible day?

What and who was behind all this, please, please, tell me why so I can try to understand

This senseless loss of life,the destruction is more than some of our hearts can withstand

Please help me understand any part of it, for I can see nothing that was worth all those lives

The young, the innocent, the aged, men and women both, what purpose for such demise

That of such destruction and death from the hands of lunatics coming out of the skies

To hear so many screaming it was not us that did it, who is telling truth and who the lies?

Hearing over and over references to “Pearl Harbor, a day of infamy” why must it be?

We all thought it would never happen again, never again would we again suffer such a tragedy

Why did there have to be such senseless bloodshed anyway, why, what was the reason?

Was this an act or tyranny,theft, a statement; was it maybe even some type of treason?

Oh dearest God, we had to sit and watch as people fell to their death, yet we could do nothing

Even if we could have been there as the ones first on the scene that tried to do something

They knew not that the senseless, hideous, barbaric, cowardice acts were not over yet

We heard that they died while trying to save victims and they were doing it with no regret

Is it because we believe in our hearts and souls that freedom must ring out shore to shore?

Is it because we care for one another, we are Americans, yes the ones that even some abhor

We, Americans, that love and care for so many everywhere in the world and give so much

Suffering for it this way it reached out to every American with that of the cruelest touch

Volunteers pouring out to help in any possible way that they could for their fellow man

That is what makes this country so great; in time of need we always lend a helping hand

No matter how wealthy or poor a person, no matter what social position they may hold

We all have the determination, the fight, the unwavering way we stand together so bold

We may cry and mourn for our loved ones that will no longer be with us here on earth

But knowing that we shall never give up our freedom without a fight, that of our birth

No, no matter what tyranny, heinous crimes against us or senseless acts that may appear

We will fight to the death to protect that freedom and make it ring out resiliently clear

Those that have passed on and suffer as they did, the will not have died in vain

For we as a nation have bonded even more cohesively as one and we do feel your pain

To those whose have lost their loved ones you must know this and know this well

That we as a nation shall find the ones responsible for this and send them straight back to hell!

By Larry Harshaw, Used With Permission