9.11 Tribute: “Overcome” – Live

This is just a video I wanted to share, it is a song called “Overcome” by Live. Enjoy it and remember that day and how it felt to see your nation under attack. I know where I was that morning, and I never will forget. It seems like some have begun to forget and lose sight of where we have been.

BTW…I will post a picture from tonight’s Tribute in Light at Ground Zero. I saw a live shot of it on the news and it looked amazingly dramatic tonight so I will post a photo later tonight or tomorrow.

God Bless America!

9.11.01 – Never Forget

Eight years ago on this day, our country and sense of reality changed forever. Our fellow citizens, our way of life, and freedom itself came under attack. We lost nearly 3,000 of our fellow countrymen in a violent attack of foreign terrorism. While our current political climate has left us what appears to be little common ground, today should stand separate and apart. Today let us all as Americans, rise up and stand above the fray of the political climate and recall, reflect, and remember. Let us remember how a crisp, clear day was turned from its splendor into a day of carnage, grief, and fear. Let us remember a day where we all came together to cry, to pray, and to comfort our neighbors. Let us remember a day where our political leaders stood together on the steps of the Capitol to help reassure a shaken nation. Let us remember a day where our political differences meant less to us than our nation and our fellow Americans. Let us remember a time when our fear and quiet unyielding anger turned into resolve, a renewed love of country, and dedication to others. Time is known to gray our memory as it passes. We should take the opportunity today to remember the unfurling of flags and the lighting of candles rather than current political discontent and hyperpolitical reactions to nearly anything and everything. We stood together, sang patriotic songs together, and become resolved to do more for our country. September 11, 2001 is a date that will forever be etched into American history, and our collective memory. It was a day which changed the world forever, and brought us all closer together. On this day, let us set aside our differences, our disagreements, and our discord and unite once again to remember those we lost and to honor those who have fought, continue to fight, and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our nation and of freedom itself. America was attacked on that day because it stood as a beacon for freedom and opportunity in this world. Our President said, “no one will keep that light from shining.” As we reflect today, those words still ring true, our country will long be the hope of the world. On that day we saw the worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America. Today we reflect on a dark day in our nation’s history. Yet out of those ashes, a great people were moved to defend a great nation. Let us continue to offer our prayers to all those who continue to grieve the loss of a loved one, to children whose worlds were shattered. Let us pray the families continue to find the comfort and condolence of a higher power to continue to cope with their loss. May God Bless those we lost, those who defend our nation, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.

Always Remember, Never Forget

September 11, 2001

Oh … We’re Sorry

First, sorry that it has been a long time since I posted a blog entry. With finals coming up, I have been super busy.

But today, I am extremely moved to post about something. Today, hundreds (if not thousands) of workers and citizens evacuated buildings all around the New York City area. Why? A huge jumbo jet was doing fly-overs at extremely low altitude. Which plane was it? Well, it was what is known as Air Force One, but since President Obama wasn’t aboard it was known by some AF Code. The jet was being escorted by one or two fighter jets. It was all being done for what was called a “photo-op.” You might be tempted to say … what’s the harm in a photo-op over Manhattan with “Air Force One,” people like seeing it most of the time. True people like seeing Air Force One … but usually they like to know they are going to see it. Oh and FYI … New York City had TWO jets of similar size crash into some buildings there. You might remember when that happened … 9/11 perhaps?

Before you say people were over-reacting about it … or didn’t have a reason to freak out … take a look at this YouTube video of the Air Force flyover in New Jersey at the Goldman Sachs tower:

The White House Military Office Director, who approved the fly-over, said that he was sorry if it caused panic in the streets of New York. Essentially … oh sorry that you freaked out about a plane flying low over the city when one was used as a missle only a few years ago.

This from the Wall Street Journal:

An Obama administration official said the mission was “classified” by the military and that the FAA, which controls much of the airspace over Manhattan, did what the military asked. “The mission was to send [the aircraft] up to get a picture of it flying around the Statue of Liberty,” this person said. “They said they needed to update their photo files.” President Obama wasn’t aboard.

The New York photo shoot wasn’t the only one planned. The White House had scheduled a follow-up session on May 5 or May 6 in Washington, D.C., according to two government officials. The D.C. flyover has now been canceled, a government official said. (Well that’s probably best.)

Mr. Caldera met Monday afternoon with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina “to hear the president’s displeasure,” an official said. (Displeasure? Well … I feel better now.)

It was a beautiful spring day in the Big Apple — perfect for picture taking. The aircraft, painted in White House livery, was trailed by one F-16 fighter jet. The aircraft had flown from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, across New Jersey, down the Hudson River and then circled the Statue of Liberty before heading off.

The Journal (FULL STORY HERE) also reported on an email sent to the New York City Mayor’s Office (not to the Mayor but someone in his office). Here is what it said:

He (Mayor Bloomberg) chastised his own office for its role in keeping the flyover secret. On Thursday night, city officials say, a junior mayoral aide had been alerted to the flyover by the Federal Aviation Administration, which requested that it be kept secret. Someone in City Hall alerted the New York Police Department, but no public announcement was made.

Marc Mugnos was reprimanded for not apprising the mayor, and a disciplinary letter was placed in his file, a spokesman said. Mr. Mugnos couldn’t be reached for comment.

The email sent to City Hall describes a “flying photo op” — government-speak for a publicity photo — to include two or possibly three passes over the area. The email, sent by an FAA official and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, lists flight patterns and specifies a photo-op altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet.

The email specifies that the information “only be shared with persons with a need to know” and “shall not be released to the public.” It also says that, “Due to the possibility of public concern regarding [Department of Defense] aircraft flying at low levels, coordination with Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies…has been accomplished.”

I don’t understand why this had to be classified? The President wasn’t aboard the plane and there were two fighter jets in tow. Some heads need to roll on this one … and not at the NYC level … maybe FAA, DoD, the White House. This is ridiculous.