Another Painful Anniversary

 REMEMBERING 9/11/01

Today, September 11, 2014, marks yet another painful anniversary of that date thirteen years ago when our world was shattered by the events that occurred in New York City, Washington, D.C. and in a remote field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania as terrorists hijacked airplanes with the intent of destroying our way of life.  In some ways they may have succeeded.

MORE RECOLLECTIONS
I've written about it each year.  You can read what I wrote last year HERE.  That post included links to previous entries, so I encourage you to follow them and see what I've written in the past.

A CRITICAL TIME NOW
Based on recent events - the beheading of two MORE American journalists, the rise of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) and the ongoing turmoil between Russia and Ukraine - we are aware that our world is far from a place of peace and tranquility.

I CANNOT FORGET
Those of us who watched on September 11, 2001 as the airliners crashed into the World Trade Center Towers, which subsequently imploded and virtually vaporized so many Americans and others, and saw the aftermath of the crash of another airliner into the Pentagon and the giant hole in that field outside Shanksville, PA where brave Americans tried unsuccessfully to take back their hijacked plane from the terrorists, will NEVER forget that time.

ANOTHER TRAGIC DATE...
Just as the events of December 7, 1941, when Japan launched a cowardly sneak attack on our base at Pearl Harbor, were burned in the brain of my parents generation, the events of 9/11/01 will remain with me and most other Americans over the age of 12 at the time.

PLEASE PAUSE TO REMEMBER
I hope you will take a few minutes sometime today to pause to recall those events, the lives lost - like young Christine Hansen, the youngest person to die in those events that day -  that date and how our world was permanently changed from that point foward.  Today, more than at any time since that date, we must be vigilant and our elected leaders MUST step up to their responsibilities to keep our country and its citizens safe from the cowardly terrorists who wish to subject us to their form of government.

RECALL THE EVENTS

This video is among the hundreds created over the years, but I think it captures the essence of that terrible day.

NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE!

September 11, 2001 Recalled, Again

ANOTHER YEAR...
It hardly seems possible that we have reached yet another anniversary of the attacks on our country that occurred on September 11, 2001, and yet, here we are.  I've written about that dastardly event each year since then that I've had this blog.  You can read my post from last year HERE.  There you will also find links to several others.

WE GOT HIM, BUT...
On May 2, 2011, just a few months short of the tenth anniversary of the attacks, United States Navy Seals - Seal Team Six - located Osama bin Ladin in Abbotabad, Pakistan - a country we curiously consider an ally - and killed him, closing that particular chapter in this horrendous event.  While I felt some degree of relief when I heard the news, I didn't feel particularly safer.  I never did expect bin Ladin to show up on my doorstep with an AK-47.
 

THE MONSTER, OSAMA BIN LADIN...
When Osama bin Ladin was killed sixteen months ago - you can read the Wikepedia account of his death HERE -  I was happy that the mastermind of the 91101 attacks had been killed, and I was also a little disappointed because, even though he apparently died of gunshot wounds, it's unlikely that he suffered sufficiently for his crimes.  My preference would have been to capture him alive then submit him to exactly the same kind of death those thousands of people in the Twin Towers suffered that morning.  He should have been run through a wood-chipper alive and those pieces then shot from a cannon for the same result.  Yeah, I know... how barbaric of me.  Well, take a look at this photo of Christine Hanson, the youngest known victim in the Twin Towers.  When the towers came crashing down on her and the others in the buildings they were vaporized!  Several shoes were found in the debris, but no bodies and few body parts big enough to identify were located.  Yeah, I think my preference would be the right one.  If you wish to know more about the victims of 91101, CNN has maintained a site for us.  I've kept the link on my home page - over on the right - for your use.  Or, just click HERE.

CASUALTIES CONTINUE TO MOUNT UP
According to a recent Washington Post report, more than 6,570 U.S. servicemen and women have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since then-president George Bush launched our response to the events of September 11, 2011.  I am deeply saddened for those loses.  I have a 20 year-old great-nephew presently deployed in Afghanistan with the United States Army as a rifleman - shown on the left of this photo while on patrol - and I worry about his safety every single day.

COSTA MESA REMEMBERS ON TUESDAY
Tuesday, September 11, 2012, the City of Costa Mesa will hold a remembrance ceremony at the City flagpole to which the entire community is invited.  The event begins at 9:45 a.m. and there will be a moment of silence at 9:59 to honor the 2983 men, women and children who died that day.  I hope you will join me and other neighbors for this short remembrance.  I also hope none of you will ever forget the events of September 11, 2001, just as my generation will never forget the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 - as then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, "a date that will live in infamy".

NEVER FORGET AND NEVER FORGIVE

Osama bin Ladin Dead! (AMENDED)

PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES BIN LADEN DEATH
Tonight, in a 10 minute announcement beginning at approximately 8:35 p.m., President Barack Obama announced that Osama bin Ladin - the author of terrorist activities against the United States and many of its allies for more than two decades - has been killed. It's about time!

RIPS AN OLD SCAB OFF MEMORIES OF 9/11/01
It's been nearly ten years since the cowardly attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a near miss against another site in Washington, D.C. that ended up in a field in Pennsylvania took the lives of nearly 3,000 people and changed our world as we knew it - perhaps forever.

RENEWED APPREHENSION OF RETRIBUTION
There are fears tonight that the death of bin Ladin might spark an increase in terrorist attacks against our country and others. I have no doubt that this event will spark reaction from those who seemed determined to destroy our way of life. I'm equally sure that our government and the brave men and women who are sworn to protect us will continue to do their jobs.

AS A REMINDER....
In case you've forgotten what this is all about, here's a link to an entry I wrote about 18 months ago which includes a couple very good video clips that will help remind you just why we must

NEVER FORGIVE AND NEVER FORGET!