My friend, David Weiss
Another year has passed, and here it is September 11, once more. My friend Jerry and I usually ride a memorial run at this time each year. This year we drove. Jer’ wasn’t feeling up to snuff. David was the first name with a face for me on that fateful morning… I use his name, but I honor them all. In some respects it seems like yesterday that the world turned that corner… and yet it is thirteen years ago. It is up to us who remember that fateful morning in the first person to take special care to carry the tell to those who were too young to remember that day…
I remember in 2003 I was on a Rt. 66 motorcycle trip back and forth across the country with Jerry. We stopped in Oklahoma City to pay our respects at the Murrah Memorial. It is a very powerful memorial indeed. Anyway, we were talking to one of the law enforcement officers stationed on site. ‘Some people say we need to forget this and get past it,’ he said… paused, and then continued. ‘We need to remember this every day!’ I couldn’t agree more.
As for the victims of 9/11/2001… may they rest in peace. They, and their families are often in my prayers.
Normally, Jerry and I ride our motorcycles as I intimated. Jer’ had some physical issues today so we did it in my truck.
We both remember, and I hope you do too.
Onward!
One of the scariest days in my life I live in NY and just dropped my kids at school. I could see the trade center from where I live. I cried for days. My brother worked in the towers and luckily he missed the train and was late. My heart still breaks for the people that lost their lives on that day
Dear Jorma,
Very sorry to hear about your friend. I think we all lost something that day. Strange how we can’t remember what we had for dinner last night but we can remember exactly what we were doing that morning. We must always remember to honor those men and woman who lost there lives and their families. My 8 year old grand daughter came home from school last Thursday and I asked her if they had a moment of silence today and she said no, I then asked if the teacher had discussed anything that had happened that day 13 years ago, and again she replied no. She could tell I was getting upset and said don’t worry I remember what you told me…I just don’t get it, I mean I live in the same state it happened in. I can understand that some people might not feel as strongly about this country as I do but these children are our countries future. You and Vanessa have the right idea about home schooling. Once again those famous words come to mind, “Our mission is to teach.”
Take Care
Hogan
Yeah, I don’t believe that this form of idealism is naive at all. It’s our sincere belief that we can always do and be better..it’s at the root of who we are as a people. And it’s important to us that we remain not propagandized.
Many would call Oliver Stone’s The Untold History of the United States leftist claptrap, but I view it as rather patriotic. Sure, we’ve made mistakes in the past, but we can learn from them. It’s hard work being a force for good.
/off soapbox 🙂
@johno
I agree. It’s like the war on drugs. A losing battle. As a democratic nation, the best we can be is a power of example. The more we try to impose our will around the globe by military force, we make more enemies. More people die exponentially. We need to have more conversations about respect & tolerance for other of our neighbors on the planet. Frank Zappa has a song called “Dumb All Over”. It’s opening line goes- “Whoever we are, wherever we’re from, it should be noticed by now our behavior is dumb”. I’m an idealist as well. Some would say naive, but I’m hopeful that we can evolve spiritually as a species, so we can be free from this cycle of insanity.
One of the scariest days in my life being from NY
Dear Jorma,
I remember for my family and friends who perished, Gregory M Preziose, Ted Luckett, Kathleen Hunt.
I love and miss you all every day.
Thank you, Jorma for always remembering.
Love and hugs,
Cyndy
That day indeed changed us forever. That was the day I decided to get off my ass and make a difference. The Navy didn’t want me back. So, I decided to become a cop. Whenever, I see footage from that day I get an immediate visceral reaction. The attack on my hometown fills me with a need to do something. Each day I am grateful to be able to my small part to hold evil back.
Thanx for all you do Jorma.
For a week I could see the black smoke drifting south along the New Jersey coast from the city . It was an ugly black scar that marred an otherwise beautiful blue sky. Massive dump trucks lined up on the northbound side of the New Jersey Turnpike waiting to be dispatched to their grim task . A young women putting the finishing touches on a message written in the sand on a beach in Seaside Park New Jersey . After she left I read the message and it said “I love you Dad ” No; I will never forget that “The cost of freedom is buried in the Sand”
“Men have been pacifists for every reason under the sun except to avoid danger and fighting.”
“The past is never forgotten; it’s never even past.”
William always says things better than I.
I’m an idealist. I hope we never forget what was done to us. Over 3,000 died that day – and hundreds of thousands since then – when will we ever learn that killing is not the answer. Isn’t that what the 60’s were all about…peace and love. Still spending billions on bombs – when will we learn – it’s all insanity.
peace,,, amen,,
Jorma,, there is a 9/11 memorial out in Freeport L.I.. its on small square opposite the Bayview firehouse.. in the months after 9/11 a few local residents erected a candle lit vigil in honor of those lost,, over time names of local people and family members were posted.. than a few years back..
The community erected a permanent memorial ,a mini lighthouse,,with plaques and the names of the handful of local residents and family friends who perished that day.. very fitting
There is a plaque with your Friend Davids name on it.. it sits next to my brothers plaque,,I made the connection last year..fate?
Ill try to send a few photos out..
Freeport holds a small service every year.. its respectful/non political.. very well done.. your friend David along with all were in my meditations last night…after along gay.. thanks
A friend said to me just before the first tower went down, “things are never gonna be the same”. Well, we certainly did turn a corner. I experienced that most surreal day-week-year-decade living in Manhattan. Yes, it made me angry. It felt like my back yard was attacked. It made it easy for myself, a pacifist at heart, to have feelings of revenge & retaliation. Which, in my heart, I know are not healthy responses. The World/Universe is a dangerous place. Nothing lasts forever. All Things Must Pass.
I pray for Peace, Love, Tolerance, Acceptance, & Serenity.
Well said. Thank you.
never forget is how I feel as well. how could I ? its part of us all who remember that day.