Three thousand flags standing proud on a hillside in the Vicksburg National Military Park ... far, far away from a place called Ground Zero, and that field in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon ... in honor of those who lost their lives on that fateful September day ten years ago.
Memorials like this one can be seen all over America today, as we bow our heads in prayer and remembrance — as one Nation, under God.
You've probably received this in e-mails or seen it on the Internet, but I want to share it again today in commemoration of September 11th. It is called, "Meet Me in the Stairwell," and is one of the most touching and memorable tributes to those who lost their lives on that fateful day nine years ago. As far as I can ascertain through Google, it was written by Stacey Randall, a Missouri housewife and poet.
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OKAY. I am ready to go.'
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said. 'Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now.'
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Virginia, California , Michigan, Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; 'Come to Me ... this way ... take my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are 'ready to go.'
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
— God
This isn't the post I had drafted for today to commemorate September 11th, but I think it is much better than my original — and the pictures speak louder than any words I could write.
Yesterday, after a morning of rambling up and down country roads around Vicksburg, I headed for home — hot, weary, hungry, and thirsty, but happy with the collection of pictures I had captured on my journey.
As I exited the interstate at the Vicksburg National Military Park exit, something caught my eye, and I knew I had one more stop to make. I turned into the park entrance and got out and walked back to the hill beside the road, and this is what I saw ...
Three thousand flags standing proud on a hillside in the Military Park ... far, far away from a place called Ground Zero, and that field in Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon ... in honor of those who lost their lives on that fateful September day nine years ago.
I'm sure memorials like this one can be seen all over America today, as we bow our heads in prayer and remembrance — as one Nation, under God.
