In Memorium.

A crystalline sky,
A dark cloud...
A time of terror,
A sear of pain...
A country united,
A country strong...
The eagle soars,
Our flag flies high...
Beauty from ashes,
God is with us.
Always.

Never forget. I won't. I lived in Bound Brook at the time. I remember the beautiful blue sky that morning on my way to work, and thinking how clear it was. I remember the attorney in the office near me screaming because her husband worked in the towers, and she couldn't reach him (he was safe, thank God). I remember seeing the towers fall on TV, because I couldn't stand being at work anymore not knowing what was happening, so I left. I remember seeing the smoke in the sky, yes, even from Bound Brook, I could see it. At sunset, it was very visible...beautifully horrible, because of the distance, the smoke was threading through the sunset clouds, and the clouds were all colors of the rainbow. I remember my now-ex inlaws coming over to check on their son (my now-ex-husband), who had been on his way into the city that day, to the towers, in fact. He had caught the last PATH train home before they closed the train lines. I remember my Aunt Paula saying she could hear the noise from Flight 93 from her Johnstown high school classroom, and wondering what the sound was, and why the plane was so low. I remember standing in church that Sunday, weeping. I sit here today, in tears, remembering.
And I move forward, with the rest of my countrymen and women, and those from around the world who lost loved ones that day; we do NOT give up, and we keep moving forward, we keep the faith. We stand IN faith. We are united. We are Americans. We are God's children, and we stand strong. Always remember. Never forget. Ecclesiastes 3.