The American SpiritWritten by John Boe
September 11, 2001 is a date this country will never forget. The United States was under attack from suicidal terrorists and as shock subsided, it dawned on Americans everywhere that they were now on frontlines of a new kind of battle. A battle not fought on foreign soil but within our borders. Who can ever forget horrific pictures of crash site in Pennsylvania, Pentagon damaged and burning or New York’s elegant Twin Towers collapsing into rubble before our very eyes? The images of destruction and heroism on that day are etched into our memories. Our respect and admiration went out to firemen, police officers, medical technicians and other volunteers as they worked heroically amidst smoke and dust searching for survivors at “ground zero.” Feelings of shock and disbelief soon turned into thoughts of sorrow, fear and anger. In aftermath of this terrorist attack, using all of its resources and drawing on past, country struggles to make sense of tragedy. If this act of unprecedented violence was intended to divide us as a country and break our spirit as a people it failed miserably! For you see, American Spirit can’t be blown up, burned down or extinguished. These cowardly killers made a huge mistake when they underestimated character and compassion of American Spirit! People across this great nation pulled together, not apart. Proud Americans from coast to coast stood in line for blocks waiting to give their blood. Flags came out and candles were lit as Americans collectively mourned this tragedy.
| | How Will You Be Remembered?Written by John Boe
Have you ever wondered about your own funeral? How many people will attend and what do you imagine they will say about your life? Recently I read a story about a man named Alfred who had rare opportunity to read his own obituary. Apparently newspaper in Alfred’s hometown mistakenly believed that he had died and prematurely published his obituary. Alfred was a philanthropist who had made a fortune by inventing dynamite in 1866. In his obituary his invention was blamed for death and mutilation of thousands of people. He was shocked and dismayed by harsh manner in which he was portrayed. Alfred was determined to improve his public image and leave a better legacy. He wanted to be remembered as a man of science and of peace. When Alfred died in 1896, his will provided major portion of his $9 million estate be set up as a fund to establish yearly prizes for merit in physics, chemistry, medicine and physiology, literature, and world peace. Alfred’s last name you ask? Noble,
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