Do You Remember 9/11?

Tomorrow marks another anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. We now have an entire generation of people who were not even born. However, those who were living could most likely tell you where they were and what they were doing when the airplanes hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City early that morning.

I was in my teenage daughter’s room braiding her hair when we heard that an airplane had hit the first tower. I naively assumed that a private pilot had lost control of his airplane. This is a normal assumption for me because I live in a world where there are hundreds, even thousands of privately-owned airplanes flying around the area.

I was standing at the doorway of my Seminary classroom welcoming my students when two of them reported that a second airplane had hit a second tower. I knew immediately that something intentional was happening. I later learned that there were two additional airliners involved in the attacks on our nation. One of them hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the other was forced down by heroic passengers in a field in Pennsylvania.

I returned home to learn that the skies were closed to all aircraft, and I wondered about the whereabouts of my new daughter-in-law who had boarded an airplane the previous night. My son told me that his wife had called to let him know that she had arrived safely home in Salt Lake City just prior to the closing of the air space.

My son had remained longer in Alaska to do some hunting with his father. They were fortunate that they had planned to drive to the hunting location rather than fly. They spent the day preparing to leave the next morning as we anxiously listened to the news reports. My husband needed something from the shack at the airport, so I volunteered to go get it.

I drove to the Lake Spenard/Lake Hood floatplane base and drove around the lakes to our tie down spot. I did not hear a sound or see any other person in an area that is usually busy with aircraft landing and taking off. It was totally spooky!

The next few days were silent because the usual sounds of airplanes were absent. With an international airport, an Air Force base, and the world’s largest floatplane base in the Anchorage area, there are always aircraft in the air. Yet, there were no sounds at all – except for the occasional military jet taking off to confront moose hunters who were innocently trying to return from their moose hunting trips.

Tomorrow we will remember the nearly 3,000 Americans who were killed on that beautiful September morning. Life changed after September 11 – the differences in the “before” and “after” situations were huge. This was the first terrorist attack on America and the first attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941).

Americans were frightened as our leaders took actions to find the source of the attacks. In their attempt to provide national security from future attacks, Congress and the White House expanded “military, law enforcement and intelligence powers aimed at rooting out and stopping terrorists, at home and abroad.” Numerous policy changes were made with five significant changes discussed in an article published at this site by Dave Roos. The five changes are quoted/paraphrased/summarized below. 

1. The United States began its global War on Terror. Less than a month after 9/11, American troops were invading Afghanistan with the “support of the American people and the back of NATO allies.” The goal was to “dismantle al Qaeda, crush the Taliban and kill Osama bin Laden, the murderous mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.” American military personnel were in Afghanistan for the next twenty years.

2. Air travel was changed to prevent future hijackers from boarding commercial aircraft. Security lines became a nightmare for innocent travelers. For the first time, we had to tell our friends and family members goodbye before going through security. We now have to remove our shoes and jackets prior to going through metal detectors or other full-body scanners to determine if we are carrying dangerous weapons or materials. We can no longer carry liquids or other fluids over three ounces. We must take our laptop computers, other electronics, and even food out of our carryon bags. Every single time that I go through security, I think about what the terrorists did to America!

3. Anti-Muslim Violence Grew with Americans attacking Muslims – or those they thought were Muslim. Anti-Muslim attacks ballooned from 12 in 2000 to 93 in 2001. The number of attacks continues to grow.

4. Surveillance Increased due to the passing of the Patriot Act six weeks after 9/11 “as lawmakers scrambled to fix the intelligence failures that allowed known terrorists to enter the United States and execute the deadliest plot in American history.”

5. America Became Safer, But Altered. Since 9/11, “Americans inspired by jihadist ideology have killed 107 people in domestic terrorist attacks (as of September 2020) … but there have been no large-scale terrorist attacks on U.S. cities….

“The security measures put in place after 9/11 appear to have foiled or discouraged another ambitious plot by foreign agents on American soil. But in the process … the country has faced an 'endless' War on Terror that has indelibly altered the fabric of American life.”

Do Your Children Know What Happened on September 11, 2001?

            Parents can strengthen their families, communities, and nations by teaching the truth about what happened on September 11, 2001. The truth about 9/11 and American history is being watered down and changed rather than teaching “the good, the bad, and the ugly” to the rising generations.

            Some parents may not recognize that their children do not know the history. Anyone who is age 20 or younger were not even born when 9/11 happened. They were not around to see how 9/11 shocked America and changed the course of our history. They need to know what happened that day. C.J. Pearson made a video in which he explained “What Happened on 9/11” for PragerU. The video is simple enough for even little children to watch. Watching it as a family can present a teaching opportunity to all parents.

            I plan to attend two separate events commemorating the events of 9/11. Information about 9/11 is on numerous television channels and all over the internet. There is no shortage of information. This is an opportunity for parents to share this part of America’s history with their children in a way that will strengthen their family, community, and nation.

 

Why Should Americans Remember What Happened on 9/11?

             The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the fact that remember describes an essential part of maintaining liberty. Why is it important for Americans to remember 9/11? The most important reason for remembering is to make sure that such an event never again takes place in America. Another reason for remembering is to teach the rising generation – the ones who were not born at the time of 9/11 – exactly what happened.

            On September 11, 2001 – nineteen years ago, nineteen hijackers separated themselves into four groups and boarded four airliners with the intent to cause great damage to America and Americans. The first two aircraft hit the Twin Towers in New York City, the third airplane hit the pentagon, and the passengers of the fourth airliner fought with the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania.  The terrorist attacks that took place on 9/11 changed the course of modern history, and they changed much of daily life in America. This is an excellent video to review the events of 9/11 and to begin the discussion with the rising generation. 

I remember 9/11 every single time that I take a flight. I silently curse the hijackers every time that I am required to take off my shoes and jacket and relinquish some of my privacy by having my bags x-rayed and/or searched before I can board an aircraft. I also curse them when I am unable to walk with loved ones through the airport before they board a flight to go home. Another time that I remember 9/11 is any time that I am required to enter a federal building and am required to do much of the same things that are required at airports.

There have been several times in the history of the United States that enemies have attacked Americans in our own land. After American colonists fought British army and navy for eight long years before winning the Revolutionary War, Great Britain came back a second time in the conflict known as the War of 1812. President James Madison and his entire cabinet, as well as hundreds of other people, were forced to flee out of Washington, D.C. and then to watch as the British military burned what is now known as the White House and other government buildings. It was during this war that the battle at Fort McHenry was fought, and Francis Scott Key gained his inspiration to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” that later became our national anthem. After this war, Great Britain finally realized that they had been beaten by the Americans.

The next attack took place in 1836 when President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his Mexican troops launched an assault on the Alamo Mission (located in present day San Antonio, Texas). After a 13-day siege, the Mexicans overran the defense and killed the defenders. This attack was avenged a few days/weeks later in another battle.

More than 100 years later, on December 7, 1941, Japanese pilots bombed American ships in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and left 21 ships damaged or sunk. The battleships Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma were permanently lost in the attacks, while seven combat ships and at least three non-combat ships that were sunk in the harbor went on to fight in World War II. Japan learned that it had awakened a sleeping giant that gave great strength to the Allied Forces.

The last big attack on American soil took place on 9/11, and Americans must never forget what happened that day. We should not forget that approximately 3,000 Americans were killed by radical Islamist terrorists. We should not forget the heroes on United Airlines Flight 93 that stopped a third attack (possibly aimed at the White House or the Capitol Building) or the policemen and firefighters who sacrificed their own safety and lives to help others. Americans must not forget the terrible price that comes when a nation is not prepared to defend itself.

Early Americans adopted the “Star-Spangled Banner” as the national anthem as a reminder of the War of 1812, our second war for independence from Great Britain. Texans and other Americans adopted the motto “Remember the Alamo” to remind them of the destruction of the Alamo by Mexican military. The “Greatest Generation” and members of my generation cried “Remember Pearl Harbor” to remember the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Today’s generations should have the motto “Remember 9/11” to remember the unprovoked terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C. Americans should remember the attacks because their very lives may depend on remembering and using their memories to prepare.

We cannot afford to forget the attacks because they all came when enemies that considered the United States to be weak enough to be overthrown. We must maintain our military strength and ability to defend ourselves. Our peace is best achievable by convincing all enemies that we have the power to crush them if they choose to attack. “Peace through Strength” is a great motto for all generations.

God, Country, and Our Fellowmen

                I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a city-wide day of service on September 10, 2016. Members of churches and organization all over Anchorage went door-to-door to collect canned goods and other staples to fill the local food pantry. I drove the car while my son, his wife, and daughter collected the food. It was good to be a part of a huge and successful annual program.

                The next morning when I went to my local meetinghouse, I found the building surrounded by American flags. The sight of the Stars and Stripes always thrills me, but it really hit me on September 11, 2016. I walked into the chapel, and my eyes immediately focused on the red, white, and blue bouquets on the podium and other places on the stand. I assumed they were there for the patriotic program scheduled for that evening, but I certainly appreciated seeing them during the church services.

                Sunday evening I attended the chorale event, “God and Country,” that was held to commemorate 9/11. Prayers, music, and speakers came from many different organizations. The opening prayer was given by the local chaplain of the Alaska National Guard. The flag ceremony was under the direction of the Young Lions of the Shiloh Baptist Church and the Anchorage Police Department. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by a Boy Scout.

                The first music of the evening was by a soloist singing “The Star Spangled Banner” and “The Alaska Flag Song.” Other musical numbers were “America the Beautiful,” “Amazing Grace,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” “Come By Here My Lord,” “Oh Happy Day,” “My All Is Thine,” “American Hymn,” “Mansions of the Lord,” “American Anthem,” “We Will Stand,” “God Bless America,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

                There was a large choir consisting of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Anchorage area. There were presentations by choirs or parts of choirs from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Shiloah Baptist Choir, and the Midnight Sons. The combined choirs gave a powerful rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Wow!

                Narration, in the form of statements from various former Presidents of the United States, was given by local and state politicians. A former lieutenant governor dressed like Abraham Lincoln to read the Gettysburg Address and a short history of the speech. Senator Dan Sullivan was represented by his wife because he had to stay in Washington, D.C., and she read a letter from him. The closing remarks were given by a local stake president. The closing prayer was given by the pastor of Grace Ministries.

                The entire evening was very enjoyable, and the music was absolutely beautiful. I appreciated the willingness of people of all colors, races, religions, political parties, etc. to come together to commemorate 9/11.

I particularly appreciate the closing remarks. The stake president retold the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Then he discussed the fact that the Good Samaritan was hated by the Jews, but he was willing to take care of the injured traveler. The speaker spoke about how we are all children of God, spiritual brothers and sisters. We should be willing to come together to love, support, and serve one another.

                I was very touched by the entire evening. I felt the love of God and country in the chapel. I know that the people speaking, singing, and listening were there out of love for God and country. I hoped that the events of the evening would carry us through the coming days and weeks and help to unite the people of Anchorage, Alaska.

                The next morning I happened to read an article titled “After Love, Then What?” by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. President Uchtdorf states, “Love is so important that Jesus called it `the first and great commandment’ and said that every other particle of the law and word of the prophets hang upon it. Love is the central motive for all we do in the Church. Every program, every meeting, every action we are part of as disciples of Jesus Christ should spring from this attribute – for without charity - `the pure love of Christ,’ we are nothing.

                “Once we understand this with our mind and heart, once we declare our love for God and for our fellowman – what then?

                “Is feeling compassion and love for others enough? Does declaring our love for God and our neighbor satisfy our obligation to God? ….

                “The answer to the question `After love, then what?’ can be simple and straightforward. If we truly love the Savior, we incline our hearts to Him and then we walk in the path of discipleship. When we love God, we will strive to keep His commandments.

                “If we truly love our fellowmen, we extend ourselves to help `the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.’ For they who do these selfless acts of compassion and service, the same are disciples of Jesus Christ. This is what comes after love. This is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

                President Uchtdorf answered my pondering question, “How can we maintain the feeling of love we feel tonight?” We can become less selfish and more willing to help others. In other words, we can become the people that God would have us be.

Patriot Day

                Patriot Day is the name given to the annual observance of the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.  Many Americans call the day 9/11 or September 11.  (For your information, “Patriot’s Day” commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775; it will be observed on April 21, 2014.)

                Hijackers took control of four airliners on the morning of September 11, 2001, and deliberately flew three of the airplanes into important buildings.  Two airplanes hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York within minutes of each other.  A short time later a third aircraft hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.  A fourth airliner crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when passengers fought the hijackers for control of it.  This was the largest act of terrorism on United States soil and took the lives of nearly 3,000 people.

                The event nearly destroyed the economy of the United States and brought national security to the forefront of national discussions.  It changed the relationships between the United States and other nations, particularly Islamic countries in the Middle East.

                The day has increased meaning since September 11, 2012, when terrorist overran a U.S. complex in Benghazi, Libya, and killed four Americans, including an ambassador.  The investigation of this event is continuing.

                Patriot Day is not a federal or state holiday, and schools, federal and state offices, Post Offices, etc. will remain open.  Americans observe this day by displaying the American flag, which is flown at half-staff in remembrance of the lives that were taken that day.  Many Americans observe a moment of silence at 8:46 A.M (Eastern Standard Time), the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center.  Special church services or ceremonies at the various sites are held each year.  It is a somber day for most Americans.  Remember 9/11!

Lest We Forget

                The attacks in New York City and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, were a series of four well planned and coordinated terrorist attacks.  They were launched by al-Qaeda, a radical Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden. 

                “Four passenger airliners were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists so they could be flown into buildings in suicide attacks.  Two of those planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City.  Within two hours, both towers collapsed with debris and the resulting fires causing partial or complete collapse of all other buildings in the WTC complex, as well as major damage to ten other large surround structures.  A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon (the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense), leading to a partial collapse in its western side.  The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, was targeted at Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after its passengers tried to overcome the hijackers.  In total, almost 3,000 people died in the attacks, including the 227 civilians and 19 hijackers aboard the four planes.  It also was the deadliest incident for firefighters in the history of the United States.”

                Osama bin Laden initially denied any involvement in the attack, but in 2004 he admitted that he was responsible for the attacks.  He “cited U.S. support of Israel, the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, and sanctions against Iraq as motives for the attacks.”  Within a month or so, the War on Terror had been launched with the invasion of Afghanistan in an effort to destroy the Taliban because they were harboring al-Qaeda.  President George W. Bush vowed to catch bin Laden, but the terrorist mastermind evaded capture for years until May 2011 when U.S. forces located and killed him.

                It is now twelve years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent Americans.  It is also one year since our Ambassador to Libya and three members of his staff were killed by terrorists.  It appears that Barack Obama has forgotten that al Qaeda attacked our sovereign soil and killed our fellow Americans.

             God’s living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that the tragedy of 9/11 allowed us to rebuild spiritually.  “The calamity of September 11, 2001, has cast a long shadow.  Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts.  It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world….

                “There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy.  People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding.  Comfortable times were shattered.  We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven.  And, as ever, we found it.  Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.

                “Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed.  Healing has come with time, but so has indifference.  We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt.  Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives.  The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment.  But we are forgetful.  When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well….

                “If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us.  We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives.  It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust.  We too should be with Him in every season.

                “The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day.  We truly `need Him every hour,’ not just in hours of devastation.  We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him.  If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men.  We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed….”

                Here are a couple of videos to help you remember the attacks.  “Have you forgotten?”  “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?”   

                We must remember 9/11 just as previous generations remembered the Alamo or Pearl Harbor.  This is our day to defend America.  May God continue to bless the USA!

Day of Remembrance

                    Once again we commemorate September 11, 2001, the day terrorists crashed two hijacked commercial airliners into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.  As we watched these 110-story buildings collapse, we learned that a third airliner had taken a dive into the Pentagon Building, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense located in Arlington, Virginia.  This structure suffered a massive fire and the collapse of one side of the five-sided building.  We learned that a fourth airliner had crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania.  There was some thought that this airplane was intended for the White House or Capitol Building but was brought down by an uprising among the passengers.

                    September 11, 2001, - known as 9/11 - changed the world forever and became another date that will live in infamy.  Just as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, this attack on our own soil by terrorists galvanized and unified Americans against those who seek to destroy our nation.

                    "On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1001, the world changed forever.  The United States, the world's only superpower, sustained a devastating attack on its own soil by a foreign enemy whose agents had infiltrated American society.  The ferocity and scale of the attack shook most American's sense of security and awakened them to the threat of deadly terrorist violence.  The enemy was not a rival nation, as had been the case in wars of the 20th century, but a shadowy, multinational movement whose members were highly motivated and technologically sophisticated.  The members of this enemy movement claimed to be fighting the United States in defense of their religion, Islam, in a great struggle between good and evil.

                    "Shortly before 9:00 a.m. in New York City that September morning, American Airlines Flight 11, a Boeing 767, slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  Less than 20 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 175, also a Boeing 767, crashed into the south tower.  Both planes had been hijacked after taking off from Boston's Logan International Airport.  Less than two hours later, the twin skyscrapers collapsed into a massive, smoldering pile of rubble.

                    "The dramatic attack on the twin towers in the financial heart of the United States was only the beginning of the nightmare.  At approximately 9:40 a.m., a hijacked American Airlines Boeing 757 out of Dulles International Airport in Herndon, Virginia, plowed into the Pentagon Building, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, just outside Washington, D.C.  A fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, a Boeing 757 scheduled to fly from Newark, New Jersey, to San Francisco, was taken over by hijackers and redirected toward Washington, D.C.  Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) later speculated that the hijackers intended to crash the plane into the White House or Capitol.  However, at about 10:00 a.m., the plane went down in a field in Pennsylvania.  Passengers on board, after learning of the other suicide hijackings from cellular telephone calls, apparently overpowered the hijackers and forced the plane to crash."  (See R. Scott Appleby, World Book Encyclopedia 2002 Year Book, [2002] pp. 38-39.)

                    Investigators later concluded the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria and other Arabic countries and were part of an organization known as Al-Qaeda and led by Osama bin Laden.  Thousands of people were killed that September morning with estimates of approximately 3,000 - more people than died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.  These victims included 300 firefighters, 189 people in the Pentagon, and 44 in Pennsylvania.

                    There were many heroes that awful day.  The names of Todd Beamer, Jeremy Glick, Tom Burnett, Mark Bingham, Lou Nacke, rich Guadagno, CeeCee Ross-Lyles, Sandy Bradshaw, Elizabeth Wainio, Laura Grandcolas, Joseph Delus, Linda Gronland, Don Greene and Andrew Garcia will always be on the list of heroes of that day.  They were passengers on United Flight 93 and made the deliberate decision to take control of the aircraft; they were determined to save the lives of other people even if it meant the loss of their own lives.  We honor the First Responders who rushed into the Twin Towers to help others and lost their own lives or suffered from health problems from the experience.  Others heroes were on the scenes, those who preserve and protect our lives, our homes and our freedoms everyday:  policemen, firemen, military personnel, FBI, CIA, etc.

                    The events of 9/11 affected all of us differently.  When I heard that one airplane had hit the World Trade Center, I thought it was a private plane out of control; when I heard about the second aircraft, I knew that our country was being attacked - even before I knew that airliners were involved.  When I learned that all airliners were grounded, I was concerned about my daughter-in-law who was scheduled to take a red-eye flight from Anchorage, Alaska, to Salt Lake City, Utah.  I was greatly relieved that she was on a direct flight rather than stopping in Seattle as ticketed and had arrived home safely.

                    Just as I remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, I will remember the way our world was turned up-side-down by a group of extreme Islamic terrorists on 9/11.  I remember the horror I felt when the authorities thought another hijacked airliner was headed for our city.  I remember that offices buildings, etc. were emptied in downtown Anchorage before the aircraft was diverted to an airport in Canada.  I remember the immediate need I felt to fly my United States flag and only later realized that I was only one of millions of Americans who had this same reaction to the horror of the day.  I remember the eerie silence when only military planes were flying and the isolation I felt as I drove around Lake Hood, the largest float plane base in America.

                    Last year our nation marked the tenth anniversary of 9/11 with speeches and musical performances.  A ceremony was held  

at Ground Zero to dedicate a memorial to 9/11.  This memorial consists of two beautiful granite reflecting pools that were built in the footprints of the original twin towers.  Bronze panels inscribed with the names of the people who died at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, surround the pools.  Another memorial was dedicated at the Pentagon previous to this dedication. 

                    Whether or not people agree with the politics of President Bush, no one can deny that he is always a class act, and he did not disappoint us when he spoke at the dedication of a memorial in Pennsylvaniaon September 10, 2011.    

"When the sun rose in the Pennsylvania sky ten years ago tomorrow, it was a peaceful September morning.  By the time it set nearly 3,000 people were gone, the most lives lost on American soil in a single day since the battle of Antietam….

                    "One of the lessons of 9/11 is that evil is real, and so is courage….

                    "For generations people will study the flight, the story of Flight 93.  They will learn that individual choices make a difference, that love and sacrifice can triumph over evil and hate, and that what happened above this Pennsylvania field ranks among the most courageous acts in American history.

                    "The memorial we dedicate today will ensure our nation always remembers those lost here on 9/11.  But we have a duty beyond memory.  We have a duty beyond honoring.  We have a duty to live our lives in a way that upholds the ideals for which the men and women gave their lives, to build a living memorial to their courage and sacrifice.  We have a duty to find common purpose as a nation….

                    "Secondly, we have a duty to remain engaged in the world as 9/11 proved that the conditions in the country on the other side of the world can have an impact on our own streets.  It may be tempting to think it doesn't matter what happens to a villager in Afghanistan or a child in Africa, but the temptation of isolation is deadly wrong….

                    "Finally, we each have a duty to serve a cause larger than ourselves.  The passengers aboard Flight 93 set an example that inspires us all.  Many have followed their path of service by donating blood or mentoring a child or volunteering in desperate corners of the earth.  Some have devoted their careers to analyzing intelligence or protecting our borders and securing our skies.  Others have made the noble choice to defend our nation in battle….

                    Many years ago, in 1863, another President came to dedicate a memorial site in this state.  He told his audience that, `In a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground.  For the brave souls who struggled there,  consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract.'  He added, `the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.'"

                    In an effort to keep our memories of that day alive, I encourage you to click on other links for pictures of the events of 9/11 and beautiful music.  One of the first songs to appear after 9/11 was one performed by Alan Jackson who recorded "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning."  You can find it here or here. 

                News anchor Tom Brokaw, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Orchestra at Temple Square joined together to produce a special "Music and the Spoken Word" for the event entitled "Rising Above".  

                    Americans must remember the attacks of 9/11 as well as the unity of our nation that day.  We must remember how we felt on September 12, 2001.  We must remember the time we were truly united as Americans.    We must remember 9/11 just as other generations remembered significant events in their times and rallied to the cause of liberty.  During the Spanish American War, the cry was "Remember the Alamo!"  In World War II, the cry became "Remember Pearl Harbor!"  Today our cry must be "Remember 9/11!"

Bush vs Obama

Did you notice the differences between former President George W. Bush and President Obama during the remembrance ceremonies for 9/11? I wondered if it were just me until I read of others seeing the differences also.

I saw a picture of the two Presidents standing together during the 9/11 memorial service in New York City. Both Presidents had their eyes closed so I assume a prayer was being said; Bush had his head bowed in humility while Obama was looking up. Was he being arrogant?

I listened to President Bush's speech at the ceremony taking place in Pennsylvania and felt that he was sincere in his words. I can't stand to listen to President Obama, but I read the words spoken by him at Ground Zero and wondered about his sincerity. The words were all good, and they should have been comforting. I questioned his sincerity because he has a history of saying all the right words - the words we want to hear - but his actions tend to go in a different direction. I noticed that President Bush received applause both in Pennsylvania and at Ground Zero while President Obama did not.

I felt comforted while watching and listening to President Bush. I remember back ten years to the day of the attacks and the comfort I received knowing that President Bush was our leader. He was a true statesman. He was severely attacked on every side for every decision he made, but the policies adopted during his administration have kept us safe from further terrorist attacks for the past ten years even though at least forty-one attempts have been made. President Obama talked about how he would change many of those policies - from closing Gitmo to trying terrorists in civil courts - but his tune changed when he was in charge.

I thought of the billboards containing a picture of President Bush and the question "Miss me yet?" My answer is yes!

President Bush understands the importance of remembering 9/11 and who attacked our nation. President Obama wants to turn 9/11 into a day of service. Service to others is important, but it can be done on many other days. Each anniversary of 9/11 should be a day for remembering!

Prepare to Remember

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the need to prepare for and remember the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001. In approximately three weeks, our nation will honor the nearly 3000 people killed when Islamic terrorists attacked our nation. Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of this heinous act, is dead, but the war against terrorism continues.

I encourage you to be prepared to turn this anniversary into a repeat of the day when our nation was turned red, white and blue by the many flags flying in the breeze. Please make sure that your flag is clean and in good repair and that you understand the proper treatment of the Stars and Stripes.

Another way to prepare for this anniversary is to let your Senators and Representatives know that national security is of high priority to you. National security was decreased during the administration of President Bill Clinton, and our nation was attacked months after he left office. We now have another President and his supporters who want to cut our defense budget. It seems to me that they do not understand the simple fact that people who want to destroy our nation usually attack us when our defenses are down.

Our Founders understood that we must be militarily strong. President George Washington fought for the cause of liberty and risked his life, his fortune, and his sacred honor fighting for American independence. He wanted peace, and he knew that "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

Benjamin Franklin was of the same opinion and wrote: "The very fame of our strength and readiness would be a means of discouraging our enemies; for 'tis a wise and true saying, that `One sword often keeps another in the scabbard.' The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent."

Franklin said later, "Our security lies, I think, in our growing strength, both in numbers and wealth, that creates an increasing ability of assisting this nation in its wars, which will make us more respectable, our friendship more valued, and our enmity feared; thence it will soon be thought proper to treat us not with justice only, but with kindness, and thence we may expect in a few years a total change of measures with regard to us; unless, by a neglect of military discipline, we should lose all martial spirit, and our western people become as tame as those in the eastern dominions of Britain [India], when we may expect the same oppressions; for there is much truth in the Italian saying 'Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you.'"

Thomas Paine said, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."

After the terrorists attack on 9/11, our nation put important policies into place to protect us. America has stopped at least forty-one attacks in the past ten years. This type of vigilance has saved lives and must continue because there are still enemies who want to attack us. Matt Mayer of The Heritage Foundation wrote the following just days after bin Laden was killed: "In terrorist hideouts across the globe, many men with similarly warped views are eager to become the next bin laden. They know the path to that title lays in successfully attacking us domestically and causing substantial death and destruction."

There are brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day in order to protect Americans. They must have the necessary equipment, supplies, and support in order to do so. Our President apparently does not take the situation seriously because one of the results of the debt ceiling battle is a policy to cut $500 billion in our defense budget.

In the words of Baker Spring at Heritage: "… the policy established by the debt ceiling law will strip the military of its ability to secure the vital interests of the United States. The law, unless it is altered or repealed, will do irreparable harm to the United States military.
"History has repeatedly shown that these kinds of reductions in defense are penny wise and pound foolish, because they often serve to increase the likelihood of conflict. And weakness that invites war is much more expensive than deterring our enemies by maintaining an adequate defense budget all along."

Our wise Founders understood the necessity of maintaining a strong military, and wise men and women today still understand this fact. We can honor the victims as well as the heroes of 9/11 by staying prepared to defend our nation from all enemies - foreign and domestic. President Ronald Reagan understood the need for military strength when he stated, "Peace through strength." We must remain vigilant and prepared!