Remembering

Our enemies have made the mistake that America’s enemies always make. They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness. And now, they see defeat.
- George W. Bush, President of the United States

There is no nation like our nation. No country like our country. No other country has ever been founded on the dreams and values on which our country was founded. No other nation has held to the notion of freedom in the way that our nation has. Americans, we are a passionate group of people. We are proud of where we've come from and determined to move forward in spite of any and all obstacles placed in our way.

Ten years ago today, The United States of America suffered what will go down in history as the most deadly and heinous attack we have ever seen. It seems like the past 10 years have passed in a blink. Yet, it's hard to remember what life was like before the attacks of September 11, 2001. That day forever changed not only the course of American History, but also, the way Americans live their daily lives. Never again, will we be naive enough to feel completely safe on our own soil. Never again will we, the citizens of our country, live life without looking over our collective shoulders from time to time. But while we may live life with caution, it is not without optimism. While we may have been knocked down, we certainly weren't knocked out.

As we look back, I hope and pray that we remember. That we remember all those who lost their lives on that horrific day. That we remember how valuable our freedom is, how beautiful our country is, and the values on which our nation was founded.

To all those that fight for our freedom, to all the families that sacrifice and have sacrificed for our freedom, to all those that have lost someone they love so that we may be free, I want to say "thank you". There are not enough words of gratitude to truly thank you for all you do.

America the Beautiful

Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

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!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!

O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!