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Never Forget
Posted by Abrra on Sunday, September 11, 2011
We Shall Never Forget (9-11 Tribute)
Let the world always remember,
That fateful day in September,
And the ones who answered duties call,
Should be remembered by us all.
Who left the comfort of their home,
To face perils as yet unknown,
An embodiment of goodness on a day,
When men’s hearts had gone astray.
Sons and daughters like me and you,
Who never questioned what they had to do,
Who by example, were a source of hope,
And strength to others who could not cope.
Heroes that would not turn their back,
With determination that would not crack,
Who bound together in their ranks,
And asking not a word of thanks.
Men who bravely gave their lives,
Whose orphaned kids and widowed wives,
Can proudly look back on their dad,
Who gave this country all they had.
Actions taken without regret,
Heroisms we shall never forget,
The ones who paid the ultimate price,
Let’s never forget their sacrifice.
And never forget the ones no longer here,
Who fought for the freedoms we all hold dear,
And may their memory never wane,
Lest their sacrifices be in vain.
Alan W. Jankowski
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
From “Recessional” Rudyard Kipling
The Voice David Archuleta 
jans11 said
What a heartfelt poem, bringing me to tears. By the time I watched the video with David singing God Bless America, I was a pile of mush, the tears, non-stop. Oh, why did it have to happen? Bless the families of the victims. So terrible to have to lose their love ones.
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Abrra said
Jans
I am watching the ceremony on TV. When the men from the emergency services folded that tattered flag that survived the building collapse, I lost it.
For me it represents the spirit of all who passed away that day.
Abrra
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emmegirl said
Thanks Abrra.
So painful but important to remember that day.
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bluebar said
Thank you, Abrra, for this poignant tribute as we remember September 11, 2001.
I wish we all could view our lives and time with others… with such a compassionate eye!
From David Archuleta (on Twitter):
“Watching some of the special shows on for the September 11 anniversary. May we remember those who lost their lives, lost loved…
Loved ones, but also those who gave their lives to help and save others. You are in our hearts and prayers).
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tawna21 said
Thank you, Abrra. I just finished watching the ‘Music and the Spoken Word’ with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Tom Brokaw special. How moving and beautiful to hear the choir’s music and Mr. Brokaw’s spoken word pay tribute to the people who sacrificed and the nation as a whole. God bless our beautiful land and the inhabitants of it.
Tawna
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TXNancy said
Abrra, thank you for your special post!
Just watched MoTab’s tribute to 9/11, with Tom Brokaw! I hope you all can watch this exceptionally produced program….words so poignant, music so beautiful, scenes so awesome, a timeless reminder for us to never forget September 11, 2001. (Just knowing that David was backstage during the taping somehow made this program even more special.)
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Heidijoy said
What a beautiful and fitting tribute Abrra! It was nice to hear David sing and also see his message this morning. Also listened to Imagine (FOD) and it gives me hope for today and tommorrow.
Lots of memories of Sept.11: A brother was born that day when I was 10 and passed away at age 48, My God child Lexi was born that day 15 years ago and is a beautiful young lady and of course 2001 when I was working for the Dept of the Army . So proud to be an American and so amazed at all the heroes and common people who have pulled together.
God Bless You all for your continued support of David and all his fans.
Couldn’t get Music and the Spoken word here ,so thanks TXNancy for the report.
Check out David’s facebook page where you can vote for the CMN or charity of your choice. Peace.
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Heidijoy said
P.S. Thanks for that stunning photo at the top. Wow!
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Angelica said
Abrra,
The video is so moving, especially with David’s heartfelt “God Bless America.” The poem is a lovely tribute too. I remember that day so well. I was driving in my car, the sun was shining and I was listening to the radio. Suddenly the broadcast was interrupted by the news and all the channels had the same thing. It was surreal. I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing and thought surely it must be a mistake. I continued on my way to a class I was taking with this awful sense of altered reality, still not believing. Later that evening I came home to the videos and the reality hit home at last. In the days that followed, and still, it’s hard to wrap my mind and heart around the magnitude of the loss. So many good people taken from their lives and loved ones in a instant. Then the tales of heroism from firemen who knew they would not survive helping others get out, the brave messages left on answering machines by those trapped. It breaks your heart. In the end, nothing left but piles of rubble. How could this happen? How could those mighty scrapers be toppled so utterly down? The other side was seeing how people pulled together as New Yorkers and as a nation. I was proud to be American and always will be.
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Abrra said
I spent the day watching the NBC rebroadcast in real time of the events of that day. I was at work back in 2001. The TV was on after the first plane hit. I stood in shock and came to realize what was really happening as the 2nd plane hit the south tower. We did not see how far reaching this day would be for our country. 10 years later, still keeping a watchful eye on our liberty and freedoms.
The ceremonies today in NYC and DC and PA were moving. Much respect shown to surviving families. I am particularly struck by the memorial in NYC. Its at the site of the towers. The architect spoke about its theme, the presence of absence. The large empty squares with continuous flowing waterfalls remind the visitor that something was once here and it was meaningful. A reminder so that we never forget.
Here is a home video showing one of the square waterfalls.In the coming days there will be more videos to show the finished plaza with name plaques surrounding the edge of the falls.
backbowls99
Abrra
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MT said
Abrra, what a beautiful tribute for today. I remember very well how I felt when I heard what had happened, and then watched as news of the tragedy continued to unfold. May God bless all those that perished on that day as well as those that survived, living with the effects and memories of that day.
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Heidijoy said
Love that clip of the waterfall and memorial. Many were making impressions of their loved ones names. One of my favorite stories was of a group of New York workers who were so impressed with those that came to help them clean up and rebuild that they started a group where they go to other disaster areas to help clean up and rebuild. When those that they help ask what they can do to repay they say you can join us and help the next disaster and so it goes on and on paying it forward.
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bebereader said
I’m proud to say that I’m a native New Yorker. I was born and raised in this city. It’s very painful to remember the events of September 11, 2001 but remember I must, as a tribute to my fellow NYers who lost their lives for this country.
My daughter was ten years old and I had just dropped her off at school at 8:30 am. I got back into my car, turned on the radio as usual to hear my music. This time there was no music. Instead it was a special news report. A plane crashed into one of the buildings of the Twin Towers. They had to be kidding. How could a plane crash into a skyscraper?? You only saw that in movies. Did the pilot fall asleep? I never dreamed of it being a terrorist attack. A little while later, the the second building was down. I realized that not only was this real, but it was happening just 15 miles from where I lived!
I didn’t know anyone who worked in those buildings but my sister in law worked nearby, on Wall Street. Her building was evacuated and she had to walk down 39 floors. By the time she got down and out of the building, someone on the street yelled “LOOK UP!” That’s when she saw the second building fall, an image that will stay with her forever. Everyone was running and there was dust everywhere. There were children from local schools being stuffed into shopping carts and wheeled uptown and out of the disaster area. It was total chaos. There are so many more stories from others that day.
The street where I lived at that time happened to have many people who worked for the insurance firm of March & McLellan, located in one of the towers. They all perished. That one firm lost over 300 employees. The next day and for years to come, there were yellow ribbons tied to all the trees along my street.
As I do every year, I watched this morning as all the names were read…the names of the people lost in the tragedy. It’s an emptiness that will never be filled.
Abrra, thanks for the moving tribute.
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MunkFOD said
God Bless Armerica sung to the firemen of 9/11 by David Archuleta ten years ago.
Thought you might enjoy hearing this…
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MunkFOD said
and…..thank you Abrra for the wonderful thoughtful post.
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Abrra said
Thank you all for taking the time to read and share your experiences. This article will be gone in the morning, but the legacy of 9/11/2011 will go on to eternity. God Bless America.
Thank you Munk for David’s youthful performance.
Abrra
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kaycee said
Thank you for the beautiful tribute, Abrra. And, thank you for the many moving and heart felt comments. Bebe, I was very touched by your words. And Munk, that video is all the more poignant today.
On September 11th, I had just sent my kids off to school and was sitting down to nurse my new baby and catch the news when I saw those first images not long after the first plane hit. Such feelings of shock and disbelief. As the morning wore on, and the Pentagon was hit, I feared for several of my children’s classmates whose parents worked there. I remember all the students were sent home early and I struggled with what to say to my children. I remember standing out on our little porch together that night lighting a candle and sharing a moment of silence with the rest of the country. Those children are off to college now, but my baby is now ten and together we watched the coverage today. She was moved to tears many times, especially by the ten year old boy who never met his father.
As I was 10 years ago, I am overwhelmed with the tragic loss of life, but also overwhelmed with the courage and strength shown by so many that day and in the years that have followed.
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sweetonDA said
Thank you Abrra for this article. The memories of 9/11 will always be etched in my memory. It was the day of my grand opening of my business and we had many appointments set that morning. I didn’t have a TV there so we didn’t know what has happened until we started getting cancellations. When I finally got to a TV I couldn’t believe what I was watching. So many lives lost and so much heartache, but the American spirit lived on and I too was proud to be an American.
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betsy said
Thanks for this.
It was just right.
I was alone at home that morning watching Good Morning America. So I saw what everyone else saw. My daughter was visiting a friend. My youngest was 8 and in school. My eldest son was in basic training in South Carolina.
When I think of that day, and the following days, I can’t help but remember the people holding up pictures of their loved ones. Heartbreaking always.
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jans11 said
I am one of unfortunate ones that has to share my birthday on 9-11. So it is always bitter sweet for me and my family. I do have them with me and for that I am blessed. Had good fun and food today.
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djafan said
Abrra…Such a horrible horrible day. Thank you for the poem, video, and David’s voice.
I was at home getting ready to leave for work and wishing my daughter a great day on her birthday while the news was on in the background. We just stood there in utter disbelief as the second plane hit.
Munkfod, thank you for bringing that video, David so young yet trying to give comfort as only he knows how.
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SandyBeaches said
Abrra, thank you for the tribute. I watched the documentaries on and off all day. Some people wonder where the last ten years of their lives has gone and I believe that this has been a big part of it. People have been affected far and wide. It was a very solemn day.
SB
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Angelica said
Happy Birthday Jan!
Life goes on. Enjoy your birthday. We have so much to be thankful for, including another birthday. I have one coming up this month!
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VJ said
Sweetonda- Sorry, I need to let you know that I’ve emailed you one more time, kind of urgently. lol. Pls don’t give David the items that I sent you- change of plans. I’ll explain in the email. Tks!
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Heidijoy said
Happy Birthday Jan! Hoping all your wishes come true.
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jans11 said
Thanks guys. Yes Angelica, life does go on. Sometimes it’s really hard, but I always take the words of so many of David’s songs to uplift me. I have lost a lot in my family, but still feel blessed on what I do have. There are a lot of people that have had it a lot harder than me.
Heidi Joy, one of my wishes is that I get my GCT tomorrow! ha
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pocoelsy said
My heart and prayer goes out to all my lovely fellow American Archies and all American folks on this heartbreaking day, and yeah “God Bless America”
Abrra,
The poem and videos put a huge lump in my throat…
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dakgal said
Kinda late here –but thanks abrra for your beautiful tribute.
I was getting ready for work–kind of half dressed when the first plane hit–as everyone else I thought it was a fluke accident–then the second plane –I really don’t recall how long it took or if I ever did get finished dressing, as I was glued to the TV and busy calling calling my husband, who was already at the shop. And with each phone call the news kept getting worse.
My God rest the souls of those who lost their lives that day and the souls of the service men and women who have given their lives since that day, protecting us other attacks.
Abs–I know it’s not beyond your capabilities to put together a video where 10 yr. old David starts singing a few bars of”God Bless America” at the fire station then have older David finish it–kind of like the SOF NA–I think it would be nice.
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Heidijoy said
#26 Jan Sending postive vibes your way. You’ll love it. I watch and listen at least to all of Davids songs each night.
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Alan Jankowski said
Thanks for including my poem in this wonderful tribute…I live in New Jersey and was on the Garden State Parkway when I heard the news ten years ago…I could see the smoke from the towers where I was at…I’ll certainly never forget that day, I doubt anyone will…
Regards,
Alan.
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Heidijoy said
Thank You Alan for such a beautiful heartfelt poem.
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Angelica said
Alan,
Thank you for putting your feelings from that unforgettable day into poetry. It was Abrra who discovered your poem and I’m so glad she did. It was an honor to include it in the tribute.
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Alan Jankowski said
Thanks again people for all the lovely comments…and thanks Abrra, and btw…don’t know where this was found, but it’s an early unedited version, and there is a typo in the third line…it should be “duty’s”…here is a cleaner version, and feel free to check out some of my other work on this site…
http://www.storiesspace.com/stories/poetry/we-shall-never-forget-911-tribute.aspx
Thank once again…
Cheers,
Alan.
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