Patriot's Day

It generally takes many years for our Nation to adopt and accept a new holiday or observance day. This time, however, it only took an attack on our accepted way of life, and our sense of security to move the American people to wake up. Admiral Yamamoto, from Pearl Harbor fame, stated in his diary from World War II that ""I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." This has been once again the position of the USA, a people awoken to the fact that we are NOT liked throughout the whole world, and that this way of life is a matter of fear, jealousy, and hatred in other countries.

While growing up in Maryland, our school had a field trip to Fort McHenry, just outside Baltimore. On display was the largest American flag that I've ever seen, even to this day. The view from a British ship of a tattered old flag flying over the Fort during a battle of the War of 1812 was the inspiration for "The Star Spangled Banner, our National Anthem.The sight of a flag flying today still moves me, as many have died for the freedom which we enjoy and often take for granted.

Todd Beamer was one of those Patriots who did not stand by "while Rome burned." He and others like him, took action on that fateful day to prevent Flight 93 from taking the lives of many others in a more populated area, and they attempted to overcome the terrorist pilots. We will never know the whole story, at least until Heaven, when Todd can tell it for himself. He lived his faith in Christ, and knowing they would all die on the flight anyway, gave his life to abort that flight and save others.

Would you be able to stand up and be counted, despite the results? Former President George W. Bush stated today in Shanksville Pennsylvania that "what happened above this Pennsylvania field was among the most courageous acts in American history..... One of the lessons of 9/11 is that evil is real -- and so is courage." Courage to do what is right, when it is right, despite the outcome. 

Katherine Lee Bates wrote in her majestic hymn, America the Beautiful, these words; 
    O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife

    Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!

    America, America, may God thy gold refine

    Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine.

Thank God for men and women who put others first!