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Where Were You On 9/11
Posted by: Keith Killian
November 11, 2011
Topic: General
09/11 Speech -Stocker Stadium
WHERE WERE YOU ON 9/11
Where were you on 9/11? I was preparing for a closing argument in a jury trial. I was so focused on the task that nothing could divert my attention, nothing but the destruction of two of the most prominent buildings in the world. Suddenly the trial was less important. We watched transfixed as CNN televised the destruction and human tragedy. Later that day, my daughter called me just to tell me she loved me. We like so many others on that day, just wanted to talk to our loved ones.
The images of 9/11 are burned into our minds like those of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, the take off explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986 and the Columbine High School Massacre in April 1999. 9/11 now rivals the significance of a tragic date for another American Generation, December 7, 1941, known as The Day of Infamy. It was the date the US entered WWII, the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
12/07/41 VERSUS 9/11/11
9/11 has been said to be this generation's Pearl Harbor. This year we will remember Pearl Harbor's 70th anniversary. At Pearl Harbor six Japanese carriers and 423 military planes were used. 2,403 were killed in the attack. The vast majority were military members, only 68 were civilians. The US was unprepared. We were taken by surprise. The Pearl Harbor attack cost America dearly, in the loss of life and financially. World War took place after the attack. The US stood together as a nation and with its allies. In four years we decisively defeated our foes.
On September 11, 2001, the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center were hit by commercial jets, hijacked by a handful of Al Qaeda terrorist. In addition two other jetliners were hijacked. One was flown into the Pentagon, and the other did not reach its target. It was apparently intended for either the US Capital Building or the White House. Approximately three thousand were killed. On 09/11 there were 600 more deaths than occurred during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Unlike Pearl Harbor, the vast majority were civilian. Only a few were members of the military. However, many were fire fighters, police and paramedics. The US was unprepared. We were taken by surprise. For at least awhile, we stood together as a nation. Two costly wars followed the attack.
AL QADEA ON THE RUN
However, our enemies have paid the price. The leader of Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden, was killed almost ten years later in Pakistan. This was done on May 2, 2011, by order of President Obama. The raid on Abbottabad was carried out by JSOC, the Joint Special Forces of the US Military. The brave and highly skilled Navy Seal Team 6. Unfortunately, Al Qaeda is still at large. Recently, we even heard of a specific threat of violence today, the 10th anniversary of 09/11.
SAFETY CONCERNS
We must reflect on the relative safety we have had in the last ten years. Despite criticisms of our government, although there have been two individual acts of violence, there have been no successful Al Qaeda style terrorist attacks on American soil in 10 years. We have had approximately 30 terrorist attempts that were prevented. Al Qaeda's influence is waning. The continuation of the democratic movements in Tunnisa, Egypt, Lybia, Syria and elsewhere will help to further the demise of Al Qaeda and its kind.
PILGRAMIGE TO NEW YORK CITY
In July of this year, my family took a trip to New York City. We saw the Statue of Liberty. We climbed inside the remarkable monument to Liberty and the symbol of what is great about the United States. We saw the buildings of Ellis Island where so many immigrants cried with joy when admitted to the US and where others wept bitterly when denied entry. We looked to Manhattan and cringed because the Twin Towers no longer graced the marvelous skyline. We traveled to Ground Zero. We observed where thousands died simply because they worked in buildings that were emblematic of the awesome strength and profound liberty we have in the United States. We saw the progress of the Freedom Tower, which will eventually stand 104 stories high and measure seventeen hundred and seventy six feet, bottom to top. Yes 1776! It will be a great monument to the enduring strength we possess as history's greatest democratic republic.
While considering that hallowed ground where the Freedom Tower will eventually stand along with two reflecting pools, which will shimmer in the footprints of the Twin Towers, we are reminded of the words spoken at Gettysburg by President Abraham Lincoln.
*** We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave ..., living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. *** It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us- *** that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS
I was drafted during the Vietnam era. After graduating from law school, I became an attorney for the Air Force as an active duty JAG Officer. I served in Turkey. The Turkish culture has much to offer, but there I learned firsthand why we should value our constitution. We require search warrants and do not physically coerce confessions from those accused of crimes. The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to trial by jury in criminal cases. The Seventh Amendment guarantees a jury trial when lawsuits are brought in civil trials. Furthermore, we constitutionally separate our government from our religious leadership. These are not universal liberties. We are fortunate we have these basic rights and protections as part of our Bill of Rights. The terrorists will not take these rights from us.
UNITED FLIGHT 93
Recently my family watched United Flight 93, the movie about the 43 crew and passengers that fought to their death to take control of the fourth hijacked plane on 09/11. We all hope we could be as brave as Todd Beamer and the others, if we had been in their shoes. They sacrificed their lives and prevented great loss to many others in taking that jet into the Pennsylvania farmland, instead of allowing it to explode into our capitol.
GRATITUDE
When considering Flight 93, the losses suffered by those who perished on 09/11 , and the recent bold attack against Bin Laden, a Winston Churchill quote comes to mind. Paraphrased he stated: "seldom... have so few, given so much, for so many." We owe these heroes who suffered and fought back a great debt of gratitude.
On this day we should remember those, who ten years ago, gave their lives or were harmed because they were American or served our country to fight terror. Let us stay united and not forget. Let us be proud of what it means to be an American. Let us allow no sanctuary to any group or individual who would take that away from us. Thank you.
