September 11: In Remembrance

September 11. What were you doing that morning?

I read a psychology article once about how certain days mark ends of eras and the beginning of new eras. Those days are remembered with great clarity. Stephen King wrote about this in his book Danse Macabre. He tells of being at a Saturday matinee when the launch of Sputnik was announced. He remembered every detail of that morning at the movies.

Ask anyone who was old enough at the time what they were doing when John Kennedy was assassinated. They can tell you whether they were children at school or adults at work.

Similarly, ask those of different generations where they were when they heard that James Dean, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, or John Lennon had died?

We lived in the NASA area for many years. If you ask me what I was doing on the morning the Challenger exploded, I can tell you.

Like all days that mark historical changes in our country, our culture--the very fabric of our lives--we all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on that September morning 10 years ago. We'll never forget.

In remembrance, I honor those lost on September 11 and pray that their loved ones have found peace. I also pray for those who survived and have struggled to overcome injuries.

With that thought in mind, I urge you to make a donation to help those struggling with physical and emotional injuries. I checked out many organizations with Charity Watch to find one where donated monies actually end up with those who need help rather than end up as payment for office expenses, salaries, expense accounts, and bonuses to those who run the charity.

Sadly, I found it next to impossible to find a legitimate fund for 9/11 victims. So many were scams or, if they were legitimate, funds were misused or derailed. People who take advantage of others' misfortunes ought to receive maximum punishment which still wouldn't be severe enough in light of what they've done.

I've chosen Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund because our soldiers are the ones who ended up paying a tremendous price for the war that resulted from the September 11 attacks.

If you follow the link, there's a big green donate button on the menu bar on the main page. They take major credit cards, and it's a secure site. In the Comment box at the end of the donation form, I put simply: In remembrance of Sept. 11.

Takeaway Truth

Thomas Campbell wrote: "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."