I have the privilege to speak at a 9-11 Memorial and Procession tomorrow here in Asotin. I wanted to share what came from my heart. May we always remember...
Our American lives were forever
changed on that fall Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001. Each of us have a story and memory of what we
were doing that day. Many of us were at
work or school, while others of us were still heading there. Maybe you were at home when you received the
horrible news that 2 planes were flown into the World Trade Center, another
into the Pentagon, and still another that was stopped by its passengers before
it could cause more damage. The shocking news that America was under attack.
Other American citizens were expecting
a normal day of work as firefighters, EMS, or police officers in NYC. At least as normal as these jobs allow. Little did they know that their lives, as
well as their families lives, would be devastated that day. On that day 343 firefighters, 72 police
officers and 42 EMS personnel didn’t come home from shift. On that day they gave the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate act of heroism. On
that day they showed that the health and safety of others outweighed their own
well-being.
They lived out the very
words of the Fireman’s Prayer:
When I am called to duty, God
whenever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.
Help me to embrace a little child
Before it's too late,
Or some older person
from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
And hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling
and give the best in me,
To guard my neighbor
And protect his property.
And if according to Your will
I have to lose my life,
Please bless with Your protecting hand
My children and my wife
There were words once spoken in
an ancient time that still hold the same power and truth today. The words of Jesus recorded in John 15:12, 13
say this, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his
friends.”
We are here today to give honor
to those who laid down their life not only for their friends, but for those
they did not know. Our tears, our
actions and our words stand in such small comparison to the ultimate act of
friendship that these heroes showed us that day. We, the American public, give honor where
honor is due, even though it cannot fully express our gratitude to those
heroes. We are proud of those rescue
workers from that day.
We also salute our men and women
who serve us today in the LC Valley. Who
faithfully do a job that many are not able to do. To those who view other’s lives as more
important than their own, we say thank you.
Lt. John B. Putnam Jr., a USAF
pilot who was shot down and killed in 1944 at the age of 23, once said, “Courage
is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it”. As much as we are here to honor those who
gave so much that day, and to those who continue to give, we are also called to
look into the future. We are challenged
today to not live in the fear of the past, but to be propelled into a better
future by these very events. That day
taught us not to be taken prisoner by other’s choices, but to be overcomers in
the face of adversity. To find courage in the face of fear. There are those who have found a source of
courage and those who still live in a place of fear. Let us resolve today, to be a people not
overcome with fear, but a people who will overcome fear with courage. A people who, as the Apostle Paul said, will
not be overcome with evil, but will overcome evil with good. Using the good of forgiveness to overcome the
past and to live in a bright future. The
good of forgiveness even to a people who seemingly don’t deserve it. Let us be
the people that nations strive to be like and the people that our future
generations will speak highly of.
So today, we honor those who gave
everything on September 11, 2001 by saying thank you not only in words but in
action and resolve. We honor you by
being the generations that will never forget your sacrifice, continually give
you honor, and live in a future that you have helped pave for us. We say thank you, and we will never
forget!
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, we are here
today in reflection on an event that is so solemn and so life changing. We are here to remember those who gave their
life so that others would have life. Our
hearts beat heavy for the loved ones left to grieve and our prayers are to
You today that You would bring them comfort and peace. Teach us, the remaining ones, how to respond
with courage while standing in the face of fear. Teach us, O LORD, how to forgive those who
have done heinous deeds to us. To
forgive them just as you have forgiven us. Let us learn from those who responded with
many acts of courage so valiantly that day.
May our actions today bring honor to those who gave all on September 11th. May we walk as a nation and as a people
who have learned from those before us, so that our future may be bright in
You. We pray protection over those men
and women who continually put themselves in harm’s way each day. May your hand be upon them and upon their
families. We ask these things today in
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
