Empowering Words on September 11
I am very proud of my husband Dan today. He has several speaking engagements scheduled and I thought I would share his notes with you.
By Dan McCormick:
As a member of a local crisis team, I worked at Ground Zero. The destruction and grief surrounding that site was, and sometimes still is, overwhelming. It is now one year later and the memories I choose to hold on to, and share with you now are the positive ones. The silver lining that could be seen in the ruins. I saw an America the way it should and can be. Men and women working together, setting aside differences to achieve a goal. Police Officer and Ironworker, Firefighter and Crane Operator, Civilian and Veteran, all made one community. Race, income, status, religious belief, none of these things mattered. We were dedicated to bringing home the victims, and restoring one of our country’s greatest cities.
There has been a great deal of talk about “honoring the heroes”. Well, you are all heroes. If you wrote a check, donated clothing, gave blood or sent a prayer, you helped. This country gave so much that you could have walked into Ground Zero naked, and within five minutes been ready to go. From work boots to hard hat and probably with an extra toothbrush in your back pocket. While we in the police and fire services appreciate the outpouring of support, remember also, the people on your Street Department, Utility Workers, Engineers and everyday civilians who set aside time to volunteer. All these people were vital at Ground Zero. Like the woman I met volunteering at the Red Cross rest station giving haircuts to workers who didn’t have time between 12-15 hour shifts to get such a common task done. Later, I found out that her shop had been located in the World Trade Center. She just kept coming to work.
Tonight you are heroes again. You are heroes for gathering together and sending a message to those who would harm us, that we will NOT let you win. We will still live our lives, but we will not hate. We will seek justice, without harming the innocent. Finally, we will remember September 11th with honor and respect, not with fear.
Posted by at 12:01 AMWow! You have every right to be proud of your husband. I'm praying that today (as it's now September 11th in Colorado) will be a day of peace, as well as remembrance.
Posted by: Elaine at September 11, 2002 2:47 AMWow.
Posted by: Cheryl at September 11, 2002 7:52 PM© Copyright 2001-2007 - McDeb Productions - All Rights Reserved
