September 12, 2014: Del Rio News-Herald * Letter to the Editor * "In honor of Patriot Day"
Letter to the Editor,
Patriot Day is September 11, commonly known as
‘Nine-Eleven’, and is remembered as the anniversary of the catastrophic
terrorist attacks on the United States of America on September 11, 2001.
Thousands of people died in the attack, including
hundreds of first-responders who lost their own lives attempting to fight fires
and rescue people.
Majestic buildings and massive airlines were destroyed
and masses of innocent human lives were devastated within the span of a couple
of hours.
Patriot Day is recognized by law as the official day
of remembrance for those tragic events, and has been observed every year since.
Each year on this day, American flags are flown at half-staff to honor and
commemorate those lives lost. The President asks Americans to observe a moment
of silence at 8:46am (ET), the time of the first plane collision into the North
Tower of the World Trade Center.
The threat of worldwide terrorism which had previously
evaded our country had now invaded American soil; the reality of terrorism
inextricably etched into the American psyche.
We were no longer immune or impenetrable from being
besieged and beleaguered with deplorable and despicable violence.
However, we must always remember and never forget that
we came together during that tragic time and survived because of our strong and
sustaining faith in God and our devotion and dedication as citizens of this
country.
An upsurge of prayer and patriotism spontaneously
spread throughout the land and in the hearts, minds and souls of the citizens
of this country as we realized our vulnerability and weakness and turned to God
our Higher Power in pleading for our protection and petitioning for peace in
the world.
When prayer and patriotism have blossomed, we have
stood united as one nation, with our many distinct and diverse religions and
political viewpoints; because the power of prayer and the potency of patriotism
are invincible against the disbelief and disunity threatened by terrorists.
Throughout our history as a nation, in times of peril
and persecution we have remained a people of prayer and patriotism.
Prayerfully and Patriotically,
Marian Casillas, Ed.D.