story6035.xml

story6035.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-12

Like most on the West coast, I received a phone call from another, in my case it was my No. 2 son, asking me if I was watching TV and seeing what was happening. Usually I would be up before 6am but not this morning. My TV was on and I thought something was wrong with it as I couldn't recognize what I was looking at. Look like a split screen still picture of nothing. As my son began telling me what I was looking at, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I spent all day at the TV with my family. It was like it wasn't real, a movie that was stuck and repeating not ending. I was numb for days. This event was all consuming. I had to see and hear about survivors, I spent days watching and waiting in front of the TV, waiting, praying, sharing with the news reporter and his or her interviewee, feeling every much they're pain and fear. I watched for new footage as more and more became available to make myself realize this was real ... it was happening before my very eyes.

I lived thru the TV of the Viet Nam War as it became, it slowly seemed to become normal, seen at the dinner table day after day month after month year after year. This event must not become a TV spectacular. Our country was ATTACKED, thousands were killed. It would I believe have a very different feeling and NOT be forgotten if our news were as it was when Peril Harbor was attacked. Then my parents and grandparents had to wait for the bits and pieces of this tragedy. News reels came by movie theater's. The meaning of what was happening had time to sink in. It wasn't instant. It seems that in our instant, fast paced, living today, we are in a hurry to get on with things and sadly the flags that went up to show the world we stand united started falling off in about the same length of time our parents and grandparents were finally receiving their first newsreels of the events in their day.

Let's reflect this day in 2002 to keep our standard high, fly our colors with and in respect at all occasions, teach our children about our flag, it's meaning, pick apart each and every color, strip and star and what they stand for and the proper respect and care so we are not just flag waivers but truly deep in inside each of us lets bring our hearts and with pride hold that banner high, salute it and always remember when ever you see it flying to stop, think, of all who passed to give us, you and me, the chance to be free this very second. And that there are those enemies who want and will try to take this all away from us. And I say NO you can't. I believe the quote "Victory belongs to those who believe it the most and the longest!"