"The Flower of Freedom"
by Harold Sherrod, Jr.

The flower of freedom sprouts spontaneously, o’er the rubble of despair;
Our symbol of freedom, she waves resplendently there.
Moved by the breath of life, gentle kiss of spring breeze;
No foe should expect to keep us at our knees!
Tricolored symbol - worn, carried, and raised;
By warriors for goodness, these warriors we praise.
O’er mountains in battle, on fields of broken ground;
The bruised shell of a dream is where hope can be found.
The banner of freedom rises deliberately there;
Above hallowed ground now tended by those who care...

A blue field of white stars keeps loved ones removed from our homes:
In combination, this land’s strength forever is flown!
Tears may yet flow and souls may yet quake;
Each sinew of our bodies with grief and loss may yet ache....


Paramedic, Soldier, Airman, and friend;
Americans, heroes, true to the end!
Policemen, Sailor, Fireman, Marine;
Samaritans whose brave service we’ve all seen.
Rubble of life, dark fields, torn by war and evil and doom;
Yield always to this bright flower, accompanied by those ‘midst the tombs.
The Flower of Freedom - a banner of hope, of healing all despair;
Is the strength of our nation, and a symbol of you -
Heroes…, who willingly went…THERE!



"As The Smoke Clears"
by Jennifer Johnson

The first strike
Crosses freedom's door
And as the smoke clears
Saviors move in
They don't think of themselves
Only the less lucky
Trapped within
They give their lives
But, as the smoke clears
More angels move in
Risking themselves
Let's not forget
That terrorist wings
Were clipped
By Patriot Spirits
Who sacrificed everything
Never Forget
And as the smoke clears
We clearly see
A Nation United

 

"Two Towers by Pride"
September 16th 2001 Pride ~ New York City

My eyes can hardly see.
Is there no more reality than a dark dust cloud that follows me around.
Where are your lights tonight.
Who will then guide me through my life and give me a place to rise.
Where I can stand high above the sky.
Your limitless integrity still stands strong inside my soul.
I call to you and the answer back is only my echo.
Please, can we part this cloud.
Let us stand on sacred grounds that we call our home.
You were the symbol of the greater cause of the freewill of all man.
How could someone dare to strike down you where you stand.
Still no other climbs to claim the heights that you now proudly hold.
As you refuge souls in their new abode, their higher home.



"Two Towers"
by Brian Pride

Climb Higher Than the Farthest Star
Keep Rising Keep Climbing
Built on the Love and Hope... the Faith we Know will take you home.
 

Elevated through the years of light.
Your beams of truth shine bright from your new horizon home.
Watch over us from your higher office.
Please tell us what to do.
Remember us with fondness as we remember you.
As a symbol of a free world drawn to the brink of war.
Tower over us all though we may look smaller than we ever did before.
Across event horizons we can see you smiling down from your greater view.
Though mere grains of sand in the cosmic hand know we all smile back at you. And send our love a million floors above To Twin Towers One and Two
 
New Power
Inspire Every Beating Heart
Keep Climbing Keep Rising
Built of the Blood and Tears the Strength we Know will light our home.


 
"America, Beautiful Still"
Margie Roberts

America the beautiful, home of the free.
Everyone wants to see the land of milk and honey.

Our ports were open to welcome one and all,
People escaping their own lands to come to US soil.

Freedom to come and go as we please;
While other countries you can't even cross the street.

Our Freedom Still Rings and our land is Beautiful still.
While cowards in disguise try to break America's will.

We've come together in this tragedy so despicable,
American's will always stand unified under any obstacle.

The nightmare will take time to heal for one and all.
The hearts of loved ones shattered on September 11th, 2001 we will always recall.

So GOD Bless the families and loved ones of those we lost on that fateful day,
And please GOD BLESS AMERICA our HOME OF THE BRAVE!

This is to all fallen heroes and victims.



"DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR AMERICA?"
by Laramie D. Merritt
 
At this time when the crushing weight of appalling horror and immeasurable emotion
All but overwhelms those who have survived you, your family and your countrymen;
As political leaders desperately struggle to save a forever changed, yet noble, nation;
While strong men weep as they sift the interminable rubble, clinging to hope beyond reason
Of finding one of you alive in the twisted, smoldering, acrid pile
That was only hours ago a vibrant symbol of the bounty and pride of democracy;
And thousands of devastated mothers, so unexpectedly bereaved, grieve inconsolably,
When so many, whose shock and pain have ripened into vengeance and indignation,
Manifest their abhorrence in well-deserved vitriol directed toward your murderers,
I wish to address my sentiments of honor and gratitude to you.
 

Do you know what you have done for America?
 

Do you know that by going to work on the morning of September 11, 2001
That merely for the fact that you were on your normal schedule that fateful day,
Or, perhaps, because a last-minute change in your schedule placed you in harm's way,
Or because the courage and self-sacrifice you exhibited in responding to the call of duty,
A call that took you into perils you could not have envisioned before that day
Do you know that by being one of over five thousand noble Americans
And visiting admirers of America's strength and abundance,
Whose lives were so unexpectedly, and so irretrievably, cut short
You have restored to this country virtues and passions that many had deemed forever lost?
 

Do you know that you have revived the Spirit of America?
 

Do you know that you have rallied heroes who never thought they‚d hear the call?
Do you know the vow to save the nation and the eagerness to comfort those you left
That you instilled in those who witnessed your fight to subdue your captors,
Who wondered if you would make it safely out of the so unnecessary inferno,
Or who stood with sunken jaw as they watched the Trade Center towers fall?
Do you know that people who have never owned a flag, or who left it in the closet
Rather than go to the effort to post the colors when they should,
Are waving stars and stripes from rooftops, from their cars, at their desks,
And ash-stained rescue workers, as encouragement to exhausted and fallen comrades,
Hoisted Old Glory above the debris that has become your unintended tomb?
Do you know that people are proudly singing all the rousing patriotic songs
That all-too-quiet patriots like myself seemed almost ashamed to hold so dear?
 

Do you know how you have changed America?
 

Do you know that thousands, unable to do more, have given their own blood In the hopes it would help save even one of you?
Or that millions, many who were not religious, thronged to church, mosque and synagogue
To pray for you, to pray for your families, to pray for the nation, and to pray for humanity?
Do you know that you have turned an apathetic and atheistic nation back to God?
Do you know that youth who were reputed to be carefree and freeloading,
Have heard the call to arms, and are responding anxiously, full of national pride?
Do you know you have reminded all of us of the freedoms that we cherish,
And you have given us the backbone to rise up and preserve our liberty?
 

Do you know what you have done for America?
 

Do you know that you have made casual citizens into heroes?
Do you know that you are my heroes, and that you will be heroes for generations to come?
I hope and pray you know the importance of what you have done for America,
And that in retelling of your tremendous and incomprehensible sacrifice,
Which some of you made willingly, some unwittingly, and all so undeservedly,
You will continue to bring out all that is good in individual Americans,
And in the entire nation that you honored in life and saved in your death.
Insha‚ allah, God willing, we who survive you will never forget All that you have done for America.

"New York, New York"
by Paula Osipovitch

A city so alive once...now stands still.
The aroma of soft pretzels that mark its notoriety,
And the scent of chestnuts roasting in a cities cool calmness...now have faded.
Outdoor coffee shops now have people gazing in disbelief.
Central Park...Cold and dark
 

The silent footsteps of people in crowds of hustle.
Nor do we hear voices calling to cabs...
No longer do we hear the excitement of the glitter ringing in our ears.
 

Now remains what use to be....
Wreckage and twisted rubble of a landmark that signified our great city.
 

People pulling together...tears ... embracing...Fear!
Now our flag is our landmark that signifies our great city
And symbolizes our most horrific tragedy.
 

"ONE NATION UNDER GOD..."
Under rubble...
With liberty and Justice for all!
 

Light a candle.... say a pray.... raise your flag.... Sing patriotic songs...
With praise...Much sorrow... and fear of tomorrow.
What will it bring...More death...unsung heroes...Men dying for our country.
Should this go unnoticed? By NO means!
Lend a hand for United we stand!
 

What will be? ... Will we see?
Justice and freedom!
For the mourners...there will never be justice. Their loved ones are gone...
Men, women and children and the living to carry on, this senseless torture of grief!
The Grief that only another in grief can ever comprehend!
 

They did not die for their country...sad but true,
Although the country mourns for them just the same!
They died in terror...and their memory lives on...
In our hearts...forever!
 
 
New Power
Inspire Every Beating Heart
Keep Climbing Keep Rising
Built of the Blood and Tears the Strength we Know will light our home.