[ I apologize for assuming you might be interested to hear my thoughts on the subject, but I would like to re-type now what I wrote by hand just a short time ago. ]

Five years have passed since September 11, 2001. Each of us experienced that day in our own way and each of us has to deal with that memory in their own way.

As some of you know, my experience was that of an eyewitness (as my office was on the 53rd floor of Tower 2) to the events that occured at the World Trade Center, and my way of dealing with my memories right now is to write my thoughts down on paper.

At this very moment, I’m returning home from a charity golf tournament in New Jersey. The beneficiary is an organization called Tuesday’s Children that provides programming and support services for the children who lost a parent on 9/11, and it was my job to take photgraphs of the event.

I had not thought about the fact that we would be passing through downtown Manhattan, and that I would “see” just now, as I looked out the window, the Twin Towers again against the skyline... represented by two shafts of blue light (now displayed annually on this date). For the third time today, my eyes are tearing up a bit.

While today has been special, I try to think about it every day. I try to remember it because somehow it seems right to remind myself that I lived, that I am among the lucky ones, and that every time I remember THAT, I remember and thank and honor the ones who didn’t get out, or who died in the rescue effort.

I’ve arrived home now, and found this that I wrote back then:

Americans have been amongst the most blessed people in the history of man. We have perhaps the most freedom and free choice of any people at anytime. That freedom is why these people did this. That freedom is how they did it.

If one of God’s greatest gifts to us is the freedom to choose, do decide for ourselves what we will do or won’t do... this kind of random violence, these kinds of attacks, are part of the price we pay for that freedom.

It is the other side of free choice, free will. It is the side of those who choose to hurt. We, like those in other free countries, have paid it in the past and will pay it again in the future. It is worth paying, but we should never forget those who make that payment, who bear that cost. Every time we remember them... a little bit of their life is still here with their loved ones.

–
I’ve just found several thoughtul emails from people thinking of me on this sad anniversary, including many whom I know only because of my involvement in the Rox fan community. I’m deeply touched, just as I was (and will always be) with the outpouring of concern and support I felt in the days after 9/11.

Yes... call me overly emotional, but I cried a bit too when I first saw that message on the backdrop at the end of the concert: DO WHAT YOU WANT BUT HARM NO ONE.

Peace to all... – LEO