Last night, I set my flag out inside my front door lest I forgot it (I almost forgot trash day, but not the flag).  For as long as I can remember, I've always felt strongly about flying the flag on special days.

 

I put my flag out today.  I put a special flag magnet on my truck.  I wore a flag shirt I bought shortly after September 11, 2001.

 

I paused at 8:45 this morning.  I paused at 9:06.  I have been to Shanksville, PA and cried over the lives lost.

 

On Monday, I gave blood as I have been every Monday for the past few months.  I asked the woman drawing my platelets if there was a big blood drive scheduled for the 11th.  There was not.

 

Today, as I worked, I was surprised at the lack of rememberance from my co-workers.  I was surprised at the lack of acknowledgement from the press.

 

I am not surprised that the date was not forgotten here.

 

I am often hurt by those that say "9/11."  Funny, I wasn't around in 1941, but I don't ever remember anyone ever talking about "12/7" being a day of Infamy.  They always speak of "December 7th."  I am, to put it bluntly, offended by the casualness by which people speak of "9/11" as if they can't take the time to say the whole words of "September 11th."

 

My wife and I spend quite a bit of time outside in our hot tub.  We do so because it gives us time to listen to each other without interruption.  I remember six years ago when the planes stopped flying.  I remember how I felt.  I remember candle-light vigils.  I remember thinking how I would feel when we were victorious and all of this would be over.  I still wonder if I will ever have that feeling.

 

Joel, thank you for starting this message.  I am disappointed in how it seems people have forgotten this day.  I remember seeing live on TV, people jumping from buildings hundreds of feet in the air.  I remember living through those events.  I remember knowing I never wanted to live through those sorts of events again. 

 

To Jim G and the others out there who are out there fighting for freedom for the US and the world, Thank you.  For those that remembered this day, Thank you. 

 

To those who for whatever reason can't understand or can't seem to allow democracy (however screwed up we have it here) to persevere, I hope your God has mercy on you.

 

For the rest of us, I hope we can live in peace until a time when we can figure out how to live together without trying to exterminate everyone else because some believe that their God thinks they should kill the rest because they beleive in some other God.  That's just about the saddest thing I can imagine.

 

I am glad and proud that I am a member of this community.