Sept 11

[Don Guillette]

Normally I don't do this on the forum but 9/11 was an awful day for me so please indulge me this one time. I was a volunteer fireman for over 20 years in upstate NY and So Ca and when I saw those poor suckers rushing into those buildings I was sick to my stomach. I felt so bad and I wish I could have been with them. My sadness did not end there - 3 days later my oldest daughter died of aa heart attack. Parents should not have to bury their children. All in all it was an awful week.Anyway, I received the following message from a good saling friend of mine from NY. His name is Tony Toskas and we sail together at the Catalina 30 National events.Here's the message:Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and PLEASE forward this email immediately to everyone in your address book asking them to also forward it.We have a little less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America. If you forward this email to least 11 people and each of those people do the same...you get the idea.  THE PROGRAM IS THIS: On Monday, September 11th, 2006, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States.Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this fifth anniversary of our country's worst tragedy. We do this in honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms.In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorism of all kinds.Action Plan: So, here's what we need you to do...(1) Forward this email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Take a moment to think back to how you felt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day. Thank you for your participation. God Bless You and God Bless America

 

[Benny]

Don, thanks for sharing.

Our flag is ready and will forward to my mailing list.

 

[K9piper]

It is the least we can do for all the 911 victems

To the Guillette FanilyA year has passed since your daughter became a Guardian Angle for a New Born Child. Although God has summoned her to be with him she will never be but a second away from your heart. Her new job as a Guardian Angle will take much of her time but she will always have the time to keep a watchful eye on her family and loved ones. Honor her life with smiles not tears, remember all the happy times together.K9piper911 was a day that I will never forget. My office was at the #6 World Trade Center. In 93 I saw what I thought could never happen but it did. On 911 I once again saw what I thought could never happen nor happen again.I lost a lot of friends on that day and most were assigned to the Port Authority Police Department. I still remember the faces and still see those faces almost every day. I remember working with those fellows time and time again in Law Enforcement Activities. I'll never forget the smiles and the jokes told.They all did the job to the fullest extent but we should remember all the victems no matter if they were NYPD, FDNY , PAPD or the FED as heros even all the folks who worked in the WTC buildgings are my heros, each and everyone of them. May God Bless them all. May God take pitty on the souls who caused this murder of family, friends and co-workers.As we remember to put our flags up at half mast on 911 as is suggested in your post let us all pray for the victems and for the souls who have to STILL answer up to God the Almighty. When the sun sets over ground zero we should ALL lift our heads up to God and ask that he never lets this happen to any other American or to any other person in our world.On 911 pray for them all and then on 914 we can once again look towards heaven and this time pray that God lets your daughter bring not a tear but a smile to your face in her loving memory.Thanks for the post from the heart Don.K9piper

 

[Lou 14643]

Another idea

I’ll probably be sorry that I responded to this, but I’d like to suggest that there are more meaningful ways to mark September 11th than by merely flying the flag. But first, a couple of facts. September 11th was not our country’s worst tragedy. In sheer numbers, it is far surpassed by the Galveston hurricane of 1900 – somewhere between 6 and 12,000 dead, or the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 – 27,000 estimated to have died (both at a time when our total population was much smaller). I’m sure there are other natural disasters that have killed many other thousands. But I’d argue that the Viet Nam conflict, with 58,000 American deaths, and I don’t know how many Vietnamese was a far greater tragedy. I won’t even begin to discuss our current escapade in Iraq, where so far over 2,800 American dead, and God knows how many Iraqis. The greater tragedy here is that we’ve squandered the goodwill of the world that we had in such abundance on and immediately after 9/11. There will, unfortuntately, be many more national tragedies, both natural and those that are plotted against us by our enemies. The way we react to them will say much about who we are as a country. I was on line for 5 hours to donate blood on the evening of 9/11. I was searching, along with uncounted hundreds of thousands (likely millions) of Americans who felt that there must be things we could do to come together as a country and draw something positive from this horrible event. Unfortunately, much of that spirit has faded away, and what has not has been co-opted for political purposes, to the point where banners, ribbons, and even flags have become not simply universal signs of solidarity, but political statements. I’d like to suggest that if we want to show our concern for the state of our country, and our opposition to the spirit that brought about those horrible events on 9/11, we find ways to make our country, and our world, a better, more civil place, not just on 9/11, but always. Volunteer, give to charity, become an activist for a just cause. Do anything, but at least do something. As that old slogan from the 70’s went, “if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Don, I’m so sorry for your loss of your daughter. I can’t imagine how it feels to bury a child, and I hope I can only ever imagine it, and not experience it myself. I believe that a fitting tribute to her, and to all the victims of September 11th and other national tragedies would be for all of us to work to bring our communities, and our nation, closer to the ideals our founders had in mind when they put their lives on the line for this notion of a free country. At a time when we should be united, we seem, as a people, to be more divided than ever. Let’s mark 9/11 by trying to find ways to meaningfully come together.

 

[NautiDuck]

I'll fly mine

On the house and on the boat.

 

[Bill Roosa]

The long range view

You really have to have a long range view into the future to have what we are doing on the GWoT to make sense. I've been with these folks (Arabs). Been in their houses and stayed overnight with them on occasion. The are good people who want what we already have. Life, liberty and the right to pursue happiness. What they also have is repressive governments that likes being in control. Their leaders don't have any concern for their wellfair because the people don't have any way of effecting them. Their reality grows out of the barrel of a gun. Their leadership is not going to just wake up one day and say "you know we have really been unkind to our population we should change." The have power and wealth and they want to keep it. What we are doing in Iraq is nothing less than infecting the middle east with the virus of democracy. Give it 10 years and Iraq is going to have the same problem with its' borders that we have with ours. They will not be able to keep them out because there is opportunity and freedom in Iraq. Imagine what that will do to nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran. People leaving in droves for freedom. Where will their leaders get power and wealth then? The truth is they will start killing their own people and putting up fences to stop the bleeding. They will not go quietly into the night. It is going to get a lot worse before it gets better that much is certain. We have to stop looking at today and keep looking to the future. We are making the world a better place for future generations. We are all going to have to pay a price to do that.911 was a horrible event. Maybe not the worst but certainly the worst emotionally. I can understand a hurricane or earthquake but I can never understand how someone could get to a state where that kind of action is justifiable.I have my flag flying

 

[abe]

Thanks for the reminder, I will fly my flag the

whole month of September. I came in 1967 from Castroland and I am eteranaly greatfull to this country, its freedoms, and what it represents.abe

 

[Scott21120]

Tom S - where did you get the poster

in your post - the 2002 Sail for America? Is it something that is still available somewhere? Very cool.Our flags will be flying. Proudly.

 

[Capt Jim24025]

Tom S - I second Scotts question

Very good poster, is it available anywhere?Thanks,Jim

 

[Phil Herring]

if you have political input

Please use the Political forum. You can find a link on this foruim's menu screen. Political comments posted here will be deleted. Thanks!ph.

 

[Ross]

Thanks Phil, I felt that was needed.

I have opinions on these matters but refrain from voicing them.

 

[r.w.landau]

Our anthem, Land of the free, home of the brave!

Our flag not only commemorates and honors the lives lost for our country (through all time), it honors the living that respect the price that has been paid.Don and all you other Americans, I will also fly my flag with the respect and honor that it stands for.r.w.landau

 

[Doghouse]

Count me in.

I know I am in the 49%, yet you must remember the flag is a symbol of our country, not its leadership. Support the country, support the troops, skip the rest!