Long may our flag wave
I didn't have to put my flag up on Sept. 11. I didn't have to put
it up because I have never taken it down.
Like most other people, I always thought flags were for holidays,
but on Sept. 11, 2001, I put up the flag and, in some way, put my
heart up with it. My flag was on display, saying, "I love my
country," and my heart was saying it too.
All of our hearts were breaking on Sept. 11, but when I saw all
the flags everywhere, it softened the pain. It was a comfort to know
that no matter how individualistic we all are, we have one common
bond: We are Americans.
For days afterward, when I would turn onto my street, it would
lift my spirits to see all the flags flying, but eventually, one by
one, they started to come down. I would look at my flag and think
about taking it down, but somehow I couldn't bring myself to do it.
Sometimes when I walked past it and it would billow and brush against
my shoulder, I would have such a sense of sadness. Finally it started
to fade. It was decision time.
I put up a new flag! I decided that it is my way of honoring my
country and the innocent lives that were taken on Sept. 11. More than
3,000 people died just because they lived in a country that believes
in freedom. They were objects of hatred and, I believe, envy because
they enjoyed the freedom that comes with living in America. Their
names must be added to a long list of names that have proved that
"freedom is not free"; it actually comes at a very dear price.
When this flag fades, there will be another, and another, because
I realize more than ever before what a privilege it is to fly this
flag. Long may it wave, over my house and yours and our country!
SUSAN BOWERS
Executive Director
Burbank Chamber of Commerce
The Day America Cried
Tragedy strikes, now we don't know what to do
We thought we were invincible, now we know the truth
Terrorism strikes, thousands of people die
But why does it take Death to make us open our eyes?
Mixed feelings of anger, fear, pain and hate
If there is a God, why do innocent people suffer such a gruesome
fate?
They say everything happens for a reason, they say life goes on
But they are not the ones who mourn because their families are
gone.
A dark cloud hovers over this land of the free
Everybody has eyes, but only a few can see
World peace isn't hard if everyone does their part
If we all just pull together then we could stop all the broken
hearts.
Then we could stop all the violence, we could stop all the pain
