Seven years' ago, Sonya and I woke up early to see her parents off. We had been expecting to accompany them that morning on a day trip to New York City. We had been living along the Pennsylvania/New York border, and I was due to start a new job in Florida about a week later. So we thought this likely our last chance for a while to visit the World Trade Center and other sites offered by the city.
If only we had known.
Sonya's grandfather suffered a medical emergency the previous afternoon, and my in-laws had to head back to Canada. So we abandoned the trip. About four hours later, while sitting in the Diocese of Scranton tribunal office, the terrorists struck. Many of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty were from our diocese. This is for you:
To the other 3,000 victims of the attacks, you are gone, but not forgotten. As the proud father of two Americans, this is for you:
And to the passengers of United Flight 93 who died in Pennsylvania, the state that gave Sonya and I our firstborn: Although evil men singled you out as victims, you chose to die heroes in the name of liberty. This is for you:
Joe, Linda, Anne, Pat & Pat, Nancy, Charlie, Fr. Rob, Msgr. Pratico and Bishops Timlin & Dougherty - thank-you for getting us through the day. Sonya and I wish we could be with you in Scranton today.
Ironically and unknowingly, the week following the attacks we would move to Shore-T Road in Nokomis, Florida, where some of the terrorists had lived while undergoing flight training in the neighboring town of Venice. The community's pain was compounded by a hurricane that hit around the same time as the terrorists. To Joe, Keith, April, Jim and Linda, the other Jim, Carl and the rest of our Florida neighbors who welcomed us during difficult times, we remain grateful for your southern hospitality.
Our prayers are with you and all our American brothers and sisters as you mourn your fallen. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
God bless each and every American, and God bless America.
I know 9-11 was a big thing, and my mother was even there (She got out), so I totally understand what some people feel. However, I hate it when everyone gets corny about it. We were attacked and it was terrible, but many much worse things have happened around the world since then. Americans need to stop acting like 9-11 was the only tragedy in the world.
And as a Canadian, you shouldn't encourage us ;)