As a born and raised New Yorker who loves and is proud of my hometown; I would like to just take a moment to mark today's Eighth Anniversary of 9/11.

For all those who woke up on that faithful day eight years ago never knowing it would be their last day with us, we remember you today and everyday. For the families of those who lost a loved one or loved ones, you have the support of everyone. We hope the love you still hold for those lost never dies and that somehow you can find peace amist the confusion that day created.

For all those in Washington, DC as well as New York City today (as the rain falls down) we look up to remember those we lost and hold our heads high with your memories in our hearts and minds. Every tear we shed for all who are lost is a happy thought we wish to share with the world. We honor your memory and will never forget you!

For all those in uniform in our cities all across the USA and around the world: To the men in women in the armed services, we salute you for your bravery in the face of a conflict and wish you a save journey home to be with your loved one and THANK YOU for your service! For those who serve us everyday as firefighters, police officers, EMT and in hospitals, those who are trained to run toward danger while others run away, those who put their lives on the line everyday for the safety of others, I say a heart felt THANK YOU. I hope that if at least one more person has a chance to say thank you to someone in uniform today that the will; you never know, you might like doing it so much and do it again tomorrow.

Saying Thank You is not always enough to show appreication, but it is a great start!

I wish everyone a great day, safe travels and a great weekend. Quote

Very well put, I couldn't have said it any better.

Those who lost their lives this day will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts. Quote

BxHitman, thank you for this great post... Maybe it can make soma of us think about that its not everything fun and party...

This day will always be a special day for me either even when I am here in germany. My sister is born on 9/11. A few years earlier, but its still the same day...

But since what happened 8 years ago and hopefully will never and nowhere happen again the world did change. And this day now has a Significance for the whole world, not only for me and my family because its my sister birthday.

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I have two good friends who always have a birthday so I understand what you are saying.

Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating a birthday today!

Everyday is a gift unto itself. Embrace it for what is is; a gift to be unwrapped, played with & enjoyed with those you love & who love you. For today's gift is different than all other gifts. Quote

Nicely put. I was at work on this day 8 yrs ago, yes I worked days back then. I heard the tradgedy unfold via the radio. I can't phathom the pain and sorrow that the victims and their families have suffered. Those of you who know me know I'm quite the talker, but at the moment I'm virtually speechless. My heart goes out to the victims and their families on this day, may God bless you all Quote

I am from Virginia, and at the time, was working for a construction equipment rental company.

Well we got the call to go to the Pentagon (which is actually in Arlington, Va). And when we arrived onsite about 5 or 6 hours after the plane crash, you couldn't see anything but smoke everywhere.


And to see how everyone was working TOGETHER relentlessly around the clock was truly awesome.

Something so terrible brought so many people together as one.


My heart goes out to all our brothers and sisters that were lost on that day
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My heart breaks for all the victims families. I will say a prayer for them, a prayer for all of us. Quote

I will never forget the moment when I saw what was happening that morning. I had worked late the night before and was getting ready for work. I turned on the television and the first image I saw was the first tower just moments after it had been hit.

I also will be saying a prayer for the victims, their families and for our country today.
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I wrote this poem in honor of 9/11, and was thinking about posting it as a thread, but I found this one and I think I'll add it here. I'm usually very nervous about sharing my work, but this one just poured out of me that day, and after I read it to my fiance at the time, he called the local news station and they came out to film me as I recited it. It was broadcast, and then a videotape of me reading it made it's way to a engine house in NYC, though I'm not sure which one. I hope it was a comfort to the men and women who watched it.... I wish I could send this to every single one who was involved in 9/11.

Anyway..... this is dedicated to them.

ENGINE HOUSE BLUES

In Honor of the NYFD's involved in 9/11

And so began my journey down into the pit, climbing through concrete- rubbing the grit
from eyes that have seen the most perilous views- like a ticking time bomb with a fast-burning fuse.
Pure devastation from sky to the ground, nothing left now but a black smoking mound,
sifting through rubble- eyes wet and heartbroken- a soft-whispered prayer my only true token.
Hearing the screams as these tall towers fell, even over the din of the firehouse bell,
heading towards death and towards evil unknown- faced with the knowledge that our friends died alone.
Answering Todd's brave shout out of "Let's roll", we descended to madness in that black gaping hole-

Searching for comrades,
For friends and for brothers-
For husbands, for wives
For fathers, for mothers.

We fought down the tears as we made our way through, of ones who didn't weep- there were very few.
Pockets of stone held the bodies of dead- this ruin of greatness their eternal deathbed.
Dust and debris surround all who stand- stand in deep sorrow on this rubble strewn land.
Please God, take care of the souls who died here, ease all their pain and hold them so near.
And God, give us strength to do our job well, to hold back our anger tho' our hearts, they do swell.
This terrible tragedy is so hard to take, the imprint of terror we're unable to shake.
The whole world stopped when it heard the news-
But that was the beginning of our
Engine House Blues.

Copyright@KMS Quote

Beautiful Kate! Quote

Amazing post...amazing poem Kate. As already stated, this is one day in history that changed everyone forever. For a short time, every American, white, black, hispanic, and everything in between stood united to fight terrorism. For all those who lost love ones in this tragedy, my heart and prayers go out to you. Quote