Two thousand one, nine eleven
Five thousand plus arrive in heaven
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait
A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"
They settle down in seats of clouds
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did
The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."
Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green then say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the Maine"
The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."
From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
trust us sir, we've passed that test."
"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores
A silence fell within the mist
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts of the five thousand plus that day
"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons
We smiled, we laughed, we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"
The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"
Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must
Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell, but not alone
"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
Side by side helping their fellow man!"
So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."
Down below three firemen raised
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On Iwo Jima back in '44
The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow - but I don't see fear."
"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.
All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.
With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
five thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven
UNKNOWN AUTHOR
TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN
THE MEN
HEROES AMONG US
There are heroes among us, we see them each day
Their battle is crime, placing themselves in harm's way
Our streets are much safer for the battles they fight
The laws they uphold with courage and might
There are heroes among us, we see them each day
Their battle is fire, placing themselves in harm's way
Our homes are much safer for the battles they fight
The flames are no match for their courage and might
There are heroes among us, we see them each day
Their battle is freedom, placing themselves in harm's way
Our country is safer for the battles they fight
They strike down the enemy with courage and might
There are heroes among us, we see them each day
They battle to heal us when we get in harm's way
Our lives are much better for the battles they fight
They come to our aid with courage and might
Such heroes among us, they help us each day
They help fight our battles in so many ways
Let's pray for their safety in the battles they fight
And honor these heroes of courage and might
G. Loiacono
My New World
By
Kevin Grady
Grade 4
Ridge Ranch School
Paramus, NJ
IF I KNEW
If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.
In Remembrance
A flag of honor, a flag for reflection
It stands for us all uniting this nation
It will keep in our minds this tragic day
Memories of such heroic acts shall not go away
As we look on this flag of cloth and thread
A field of bright red for the blood that was shed
Not just on this day of lasting memories
But for lives that were given throughout history
Two towers of strength that rose up so high
Reaching for dreams, they stretched to the sky
They lay now in ruin at the hands of hate
Great symbols of our nation have met this fate
Our nation's military housed in a fortress of steel
We're reminded this day that war is so real
Hitting the heart of our power and might
Rise up America, this terror we must fight
Stars that shine on a field of bright blue
Remind us of heroes with hearts so true
An ordinary day, it had started out to be
Soon their lives would be given for you and me
A circle is drawn to stand for our nation's unity
A nation coming together through such tragedy
A reminder is given for all of America to see
That our freedom is never really free
"God Bless America" is written in white
Make this your prayer each and every night
God is always with us, He knows our needs
Bring America back to God, should be our decree
Much was given, many were lost on this day
A man of terror tried to take our spirit away
Do not let our new found spirit and unity fade
As you look on this flag, remember this day
9-11-01
Written by Tom Robinson
What Happened?
What happened that September day
We all struggle to understand
With grief and anguish in our hearts
Our country must take a stand
Soon the stars and stripes appear
On every home and car
A symbol of our strength and hope
As we prepare in war
As the flags grow scarce
We search far and wide
The need for "Old Glory"
To reflect our pride...
...Time goes on, six months have passed
The wounds still fresh for many
The families of September 11th
Seek normalcy, if any
But wait, what's this, the stars and stripes
That once flew far and wide
Have been replaced with springtime themes
Have we forgotten about our pride?
I wonder what the families think
Old Glory now worn and tattered
As they pass those familiar homes and cars
The flag, once all that mattered
I can't help but think about our nation
When I see our flag so frayed
How soon we all forget the pain
Of that tragic September Day
So let's think about those special heroes
Who lost their lives that day
And honor them with fitting flags
And for the families...Pray
by
Gwendolyn Wells Loiacono
37 Cops in Blue, 37 Not One Knew
37 cops in blue,
37 not one knew,
What was to be on that September day,
They had no clue they'd be heroes today.
Many at work as they planned to be,
Others in meetings, some were home free.
But when those fateful acts took place,
They left their posts, to the scene did race.
They had the courage, the strength did come,
To go where others were racing from.
In the lobby, up the stairs,
Concern for others calmed their fears.
Leading thousands to safety that day,
Climbing stairs to show them the way.
One of them, his coat did give,
To protect others that they might live.
Some in the lobby shot out the glass,
So that hundreds of others could safely pass.
A group of them to safety were near,
Carrying a woman in her rescue chair.
Another hero who gave his best,
He did not stop trying, he did not rest.
Into the horrors he bravely went,
His badge is now held by our President.
Some made it out, escorting the hurt,
And went back in, despite flames and dirt.
Their beloved home, the Towers tall,
They'd never dream that they would fall.
Many rescues untold will remain,
But rest assured, they did not die in vain.
They died doing what they loved to do,
They did it because "it's the right thing to do".
Remember, too, the living in pain,
Who are broken hearted and won't be the same.
They did all they could for both partner and friend,
But their sorrow and memories will never end.
Although overlooked, PAPD stands tall.
We know that they valiantly answered the call.
We'll always remember they were second to none,
As they bravely responded to their last 9-1-1.
Dedicated to my brother-in-law, Anthony Infante and all PAPD heroes
Joan Kormash c 2002
United we stand with our freedoms,
so strong and proud are we.
absent hearted were those who
attacked us on that heartbreaking
September day.
though they took away our
loved ones
our American spirit lives on
with determination, justice
and peace.
we stand strong and proud,
yes, we stand strong and proud!
Thomas D. Phillips IV
St. Joseph Montessori School
Grade 3
Age 8
United We Stand
THE LADY
I wonder what she thought
As she stood there, strong and tall.
She couldn't turn away,
She was forced to watch it all.
Did she long to offer comfort
As her country bled?
With her arm forever frozen
High above her head.
She could not shield her eyes
She could not hide her face
She just stared across the water
Keeping Freedom's place.
The smell of smoke and terror
Somehow reduced her size
So small within the harbor
But still we recognized...
How dignified and beautiful
On a day so many died
I wonder what she thought,
And I know she must have cried
ONE
I've met stronger men I'm sure
I just don't remember when
With barreled chests and big strong arms
to carry our brothers in
I wish my shoulders now
were even more widely spread
so I could hold the grief we bear
and not waver from the dread
I've seen young men with tears in their eyes
they stand so tall, yet broken
and when we have to say goodbye
the words remain unspoken
we need to feel there's something
on which we can rely
and in our hours of anguish
we look up to the sky
and through the tears we shed
the wonders from above
remind us that we're here to show undying love
sometimes I think about the fact
that I've been truely blessed
for I have been called one of the men
an honor, nothing less
I've stood in the company of greatness
heard stories of children and wives
all from ordinary men
who were just trying to live their lives
now I hear words like hero
and it touches me within
for I've broken bread with heroes
but to me they are "the men"
I feel that now's the time
to get my message to
the men who I see daily
their greatness shines through
the pipers who respond
to our fallen brothers rites
they're exhausted and so weary
yes they play with so much might
I know there'll come a time
when we will all meet again
god's light will shine around us
but we must wait till then
now we say goodbye to our poet, a prankster,
a preacher and a friend
all of those we hold dear in our hearts
we say goodbye to "the men"
Dedicated to our fallen comrades
Norma Hardy PAPD ©2001
September Eleven
By Paul W Smith
Suddenly and without warning
On a clear September morning,
America's face forever changed
And priorities painfully rearranged.
How can hate be so strong
Against so many who've done no wrong?
Towering infernos, it seemed surreal,
Then crashing down, concrete, glass and steel.
Thousands died and millions cry.
Heroes live and heroes die,
As smoke and ash would fill the sky.
Even now our hearts still grieve,
For captive sights which never leave.
The world it seems has always been
A place where evil seems to win.
But those who wait throughout the night
Must know that dawn will bring the light,
And we who trust in God above,
Must never cease to show His love.
Copyright ã2002
Lt. Chester A. Weekes (PAPD Ret.)
POEMS
9-11
Traveling Memorial
Never Forget
Never Forget
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall
in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd
of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back
down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far
You see he was a policeman
and died during that year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mothers amazement,
she witnessed with surprise
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before
them, who knows what they felt
inside. Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star. And given the
gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them,
but then an entire life to forget them.
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,
We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We Became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss,
We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss,
We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes,
We become one people.
We are:
One color
One class
One generation
One gender
One faith
One language
One body
One family
One soul
One people
We are The Power of One
We are United
We are America
UNKNOWN AUTHOR
Unknown Author
Daddy's Day
September Eleven
Click on to read
THE THIRTY-SEVEN
A Tribute to 37 Port Authority Police Officers
September 11, 2001 World Trade Center I remember them just fine, gentle folks of modern time. Put to test the true resolve that made our country again evolve. Thirty-Seven a number norm, battling a firestorm. Metal I-beams, rock debris; smoke so thick they couldn’t see. They helped those who ran in fear. Saving lives as death drew near. Dodging fire raining down from the skies of New York town. Thirty-Seven Angels, why? Thirty-Seven heroes high. Names and faces that I see, always there reminding me. How did life so precious die and leave us all so high and dry? These folks knew the deck was stacked. These folks didn’t turn their backs. Thirty-Seven that I knew. Thirty-Seven all in blue. These PA Cops will always be close to me in memory.
God Bless the Thirty-Seven
Copyright 2002 William F. Hoover. All rights Reserved
| ||||||
POLICEMAN'S PAYERS
A Policeman's Prayer
Dear Lord, be with me on my beat
this day and every day.
Grant that each weary block I walk,
may ease a brothers way.
Let me be kindly to the old
and to the young, be strong~
But let me triumph over those
whose acts are cruel and wrong.
And if according to your plan,
I am to lose my life,
Please bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.
*Author Unknown*
A Policeman's Prayer
Lord, I ask for courage;
Courage to face and conquer my own fears...
Courage to take me where others will not go.
I ask for strength;
Strength of body to protect others...
Strength of spirit to lead others.
I ask dedication;
Dedication to my job to do it well...
Dedication to my community to keep it safe.
Give me, Lord, concern;
For all those who trust me...
And compassion for those who need me
And, please, Lord, through it all; be at my side.
"POLICEMAN'S PRAYER"
When I start my tour of duty God,
Wherever crime may be,
as I walk the darkened streets alone,
Let me be close to thee.
Please give me understanding with both the young and old.
Let me listen with attention until their story's told.
Let me never make a judgment in a rash or callous way,
but let me hold my patience let each man have his say.
Lord if some dark and dreary night,
I must give my life,
Lord, with your everlasting love
protect my children and my wife.
A Police Officer's Prayer
Oh Lord, while I'm on my beat
May I know that you're with me,
And protect me as I go to guard
Other's lives and property.
Help me ignore those who scorn
And show me no respect,
But be mindful of all citizens
I've sworn to protect.
Be with my fellow officers
And guard their safety too.
May I always put duty first
In the work that I must do.
May I not disgrace the uniform
But bring pride to the badge I wear.
That I'd be a good policeman, Lord
Would be my only prayer.
Amen
Policeman’s Prayer
Oh almighty god, whose great power and wisdom embraces
the universe,
Watch over all policeman everywhere. Protect them from harm in the performance
of their duty to stop crime,
robbery and violence.
We pray, you help them keep our streets and
home safe, day and night. We recommend them to your loving care because their duty is dangerous.
Give them strength and courage. Protect these brave men. Grant them your almighty protection. Unite them safely with their families
after duty has ended.
Author Unknown
