9/11 - Flight 93

Can you imagine being on Flight 93? I can't. Can you imagine making a decision, that you're going to give up your life, leave your family and friends behind, in order that others may survive? In order for the safety and security of the Country? I can't. In watching all the TV Specials on the Anniversary of 9/11, no other story moves me more than these brave men and women. It's incomprehensible to me. While of course, I mourn the death of all those involved in the New York 9/11 tragedy, those poor souls never had a choice. The leaders on Flight 93, they had a choice: they chose to die with honor, saving others' lives. The mere thought just blows my mind. Sure, they knew they were going to die either way. Again, they chose to die while saving others.

Like the death of President Kennedy, so many people recall where they were that day. I recall the 9/11 events, and sitting in my safe little cubicle at work, hearing Paul telling us that his wife, Kathy, had just called to tell him that there was an attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Yes, I heard the words, but I didn'tquite understand them. Shortly after this, we heard all the subsequent horrors that followed. We all left work, and I'll never forget this: Walking out the door of my office building, and looking at the still traffic in the streets, it was surreal. Will the attacks continue? The plane had just gone down in Shanksville; in the big scheme of things, Harrisburg isn't that far away.... I remember, inch by inch, crawling down Route 230, to Prince of Peace, to pick up Pat at school; it took everything just to focus on what I had to do at that time.

Life went on, just as it always does. Five years later, we are reminded of this attack, and as I sit here in my safe home, I reflect on courage, and honor, and choices, and bravery beyond comprehension.

Stop and say a prayer today, for all of them. Try this too: hug your kid for no reason at all; be kind to someone you ordinarily wouldn't; make a difference. Make some good choices. Go ahead, I dare you....