8/4/2019 After the Evanescing...Reflections of 9/11

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After the Evanescing...Reflections of 9/11keenlyunawareofimpendingdoom,sinisterheartsrisingfromvileshadowsconsumedbytheirmissionofhateanddeath,carefullyorchestratedmissilesofiniquityaimedatfreedomsheartbeat,jetfuelincineratinginnocence,tearingdownLibertyssapphireheavensoneanonymouslytuesdaymorning,snowlesssnowblanketingfirstrespondersandsurvivors,alike.andsowewatched,helplessinourhorror*,historystreamingonTVscreensorinskiesaboveasmolasses-laden

secondsdrippedby,burningimagesofamericaniconsunderattackinthisnationscollectivememory;soonjoiningotherdarkdayspearlharbor,jfksassassination,andthespaceshuttleChallengersfieryfate,nightmares,forevershared.then,anominoushushdrownedbymadlyblaringsirensannouncingoncestrikingcrystalcastlesreducedtobrokenshards

andtwistedsteel,cloisteredwallsofpowerbreached,andairplaneremainsscatteredscattered; yet,emergingfromthegruesomewreckagewhichremainedrosetheundauntedspiritwithin,everydaypeopleturnedheroesstaunchlydefendingourcountryshonor,andourGod-givenrights.andsowemournedgrievingtogetherandinourownways,celebratingliveslost

muchtooearly,alldoingourbesttodiminishtheirabsenceandourpainwithcurb-sideshrinesandsolemnmemorials,candle-lightvigilsandcrowdsing-a-longs,thoughtfulprayerbreakfastsandloud,marchingbands,searchingforanswerstomendbrokenhearts,smallseedsofHopeslowlybeginningtohealananguishednation.

8/4/2019 After the Evanescing...Reflections of 9/11

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painreachesacrossAllethnicities,red,white,andbluetheonlycolorsthatmatteredinthepassingdays,weeks,andmonthsasemptydinnerchairsleftfamiliesdesperatelyseekingclosure;sadly,timedoesnothealallwounds,itisanice

lieweliketobelievetimeismerelyabandage,coupledwithanointmentofforgettingthatleadstoanangryscarsooncoveredwithlongsleeves.andsowelivedwearingbravefacesasatsunamiofChangesweptoverus;eatingfreedomfries,wewatchedstarspanglednewsabouthomelandsecurityandthepatriotact,intentlyaware

ofdailyterroralertcolorsthoughnotquitesurewhattheymeant,oftenclothedinupbeatt-shirtslogansreminiscentofthealamo,proudlysplashedacrossbumpersandbriefcases.progressdoesnotalwaysimplyprogress,sometimeskeepingthingsneversoughtlonglinesatairportcheckpoints,cynicalstaresatstrangers,tomorrowscautionstealingouryesterdays,evenwiththedarkdemonslain;yet,dawnbringsnewfocus,newreasonstodreamstilllivingourlivestoHonortheirs,whileneverforgettingwhatitmeanstobeunited,neverforgettingwhatitmeanstobefree. --KH Ricker 7/2011

8/4/2019 After the Evanescing...Reflections of 9/11

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