The surrealism of what happened to America on September 11, 2001 has now sunken into the hearts of the free and the brave, Americans. Sheli Casteel takes a look at the American spirit since that horrific day.

The surrealism of what happened to America on September 11, 2001 has now sunken into the hearts of the free and the brave, Americans. Such a horrific day as this will forever be remembered as 911 for emergency. It has been compared to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, only more devastating and brutal. It has shattered the innocence all Americans cherished and that was given to them by their forefathers. It was an innocence that was bought with the blood of thousands to gain their independence and now will be defended with the same sense of duty and honor as before.

Millions of Americans cried and prayed that day. A country once so fancy free in their right to be and do as they pleased turned back to the foundation that was laid for them from their beginning. Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln all humbly admitted that it was in God they trusted and to whom they turned in times of war and woe. Even though a few hundred years have passed, somewhere deep within all Americans, God was not forgotten as millions of Americans fell to their knees and lifted their cries towards the One that truly had control.

We didn't shy away from the concept of prayer or God that day and neither did our president. In fact for one moment in time, we embraced the concept and no one argued about beliefs and ideology. Why? Quite simply, we as Americans have a secret code to take care of our own and to bond together in times of heartache and attacks on our freedom. It did not matter if you are black, white, red, or yellow. Race fades away. We recognized brotherhood and good will towards men during the aftermath of the attack on America. We came together for the common good of our family, friends, and American brothers and sisters.

Our patriotism swelled in our hearts until we felt we would burst. Finally, we understood what so many had tried to tell us before concerning how we obtained our freedom and the state of mind of our heroes of the Revolutionary War, WWI, and WWII. We finally got it after hundreds of history lessons. We captured in our souls what it meant to die for your country as we watched the planes crash and the buildings collapse right before our eyes. It was a truth at first we could not believe for it was too overwhelming but then our hearts were aflame as we prepared not only to retaliate in the physical but also in the spiritual. For not only were we physically changed forever, but we were spiritually changed eternally.

Fear came upon us, but it did not triumph over bravery as our heroes raced to the aftermath to save someone and anyone. Many of those heroes died in honor as they try to save someone's father, mother, aunt, uncle, son, or daughter. These heroes have been relentless for weeks, their bodies tired and spent but their desire to press on never wavering.

We hear story after story of lives touched or destroyed by these terrorist attacks. Babies were born into a world where just days earlier they had a father, missing brothers and sisters are still not found, and we hear cases of happenstance that cause a few employees to be late to work that day which in turn saved their lives, and survivors crawl from wreckage and they are unharmed. Rivers of tears for sorrow and joy filled the streets that day.

So, what is there to be remembered concerning what happened that unforgettable day? A day that will go down into history forevermore. I believe it is our patriotism and the faith that we will come out on top in the end no matter what danger we face. We are strong and true. We are Americans created from the exact same stock that won our freedom in the past and we won't let our guard down again. The price our ancestors paid and the victims of Tuesday's attack were too costly to let it happen again.

As I gazed at the photograph of our brave fire fighters raising Old Glory in the midst of the rubble these words whispered in my ear, "Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave for the land of the free and the home of the brave?" I answered with a proud glint in my eye, "Yes, Mr. Key, it most certainly does!"

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Sheli Casteel a successful online author and publisher. By day she works for a non-profit law organization as a legal secretary in her home state of Alabama. She is recently married to a very charming man that gives her tons of material to write about in her spare time. Her greatest weakness could only be her need to please everyone if it is in her power to do so. The most important thing in her life is family without whom she would not have the inspiration to write.

Volume B Issue 9 September 2002 Copyright 2002 Gx Webzine All Rights Rsvd.

Volume B Issue 9 September 2002
Copyright 2002 Gx Webzine All Rights Rsvd.