In Memory of the September 11, 2001 Attacks

  New York State Flag   United Nations Flag 

62 Countries lost their citizens in the attack on the World Trade Center Towers 
People from all over the world have lost their loved ones in this tragedy.
 
September 23, 2001, New York City Prayer Service
 A truly beautiful and awesome service
 "We are all one human family" 


There are some mighty fine and wise people that come from all walks of life. 

A few of my favorite sayings from this eclectic group:

 

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless" ---Mother Teresa (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu), 1910-97

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ---Albert Einstein

"Bidden or not bidden, God is present." ---Carl Jung (words carved over the door of his house in Zurich; also on his tombstone.)

"I am a Muslim," he said. "I am an American. If the culprits are Muslim, they have twisted the teachings of Islam. Whoever performed, or is behind, the terrorist attacks in the United States of America does not represent Islam. God is not behind assassins." ---Muhammad Ali
Sports of the Times; "Calm Needed During Time of Anger"; By Ira Berkow

"As we prepare to defend the American Way, let us not rush to judgment. Truth and justice must prevail over anger and vengeance--that is the American Way."---Sylvia Browne, Gnostic Christian, Psychic, and Medium

And my absolute favorite, so beautiful in it's simplicity: 
 "ENJOY LIFE...This is not a rehearsal" ---advice from Zelda Wisdom at zeldawisdom.com

This is a recent entry (1/27/2003) but so good I decided to add it: "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived"; author unknown: sent to me by my cousin, for women; "Dust if you must, but wouldn't it better if you took the time instead to "plant a seed", "paint a picture", "cherish a friend", etc.

Another recent verse found from the internet (6/25/2003)
"We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne."---Marcus Aurelius

 

Prayers

Small excerpt from a prayer to a Guardian Angel found by Alexander Carmichael in the Outer Isles of Scotland: 

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
And a kindly shepherd behind me,

Today, tonight, and forever  

An ancient prayer--appropriate to any religion or group of people--invoking the aid of Archangels:

To God Almighty,
The Lord of Israel,
May Michael be at my right hand, 
Gabriel at my left hand,
Before me Raphael and
Behind me Uriel,
And above me the Divine Presence of God

 

 

For some wonderful patriotic music, you can find the following:  

BrothersInArms.mid on the Internet: Kev's Patriotic Bonanza; www.angelfire.com 

August 13, 2002

As we approach the anniversary of the terrible events of last September, I wanted to remember one of the "good things" that came out of that terrible time. 

This was a copy of a wonderful letter sent to me from a friend in Australia that I received shortly after the events. My answer to the letter expressed how so many of us feel. 

<< Dear Billie,
Please accept my family's sympathy for the loss of your fellow countrymen in
yesterday's terrible attack on New York and Washington.
Every Australian TV channel has been showing live coverage of the
devastation since daybreak this morning.
You are all in our prayers.
Val >>

Dear Val:
What a wonderful message to receive. Thank you so very much. We need our friends now more than ever. 
Yes, we are appalled, stunned, & scared (and mad). We've been too naive and complacent for too long. 
The world as a whole needs to gather together to wipe out the phenomena of terrorism--but, in the meantime, at home, we need to pull ourselves together, mourn our dead, praise our heroes (and there are many) and show just what we are truly made of. This is the time to grieve, rebuild, and help each other--then move on. We are not perfect--what country is--but working together, we can be an awesome entity to deal with when provoked. I can't think of any place on this earth that I would rather be today than here with my fellow Americans who are hurting today. We'll get through this.
Pray that we don't let things get out of hand or do something stupid. We need to deal with our tragedy with dignity and determination.
Among the horror, there will be many beautiful stories that come out of this. Your sweet message is one of them.
With all my heart,
Thank you
Billie
PS: I'm sending your note to my children and friends. Bless you for your thoughts. 

 


***August 26, 2004

As we come to another anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11/2001, I wish to make a comment on the WONDERFUL job the ten selected bipartisan commissioners have done. 

Heartfelt "HOORAY'S" for the great 9/11 Commission Report. 
"Is is perfect? No. Is it heading us in the right direction? YES."
Thank you: Mr. Kean, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Ben-Veniste, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Fielding, Ms. Gorlick, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Lehman, Mr. Roemer, and Mr. Thompson.

God Bless the families for tenaciously "refusing to take no for an answer" and pushing to get this work done.
 
Amazing. A small group of twelve people, representing the families of thousands that were lost, created a modern day miracle in our time of "bureaucratic" democracy.

Thank you: Carol, Kristen, Patty, Beverly, Mary, Monica, Bill, Mindy, Carie, Sally, Lorie, and Robin.

 
Billie Fazakerly Harrison

 

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