A SOLEMN EXPERIENCE

Well as all of you know the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attack on our country was this past weekend.  Here in St. Louis there were many memorials to that horrible anniversary.  I dont think any of them compared to what a group of people did at the Art Museum, Art Hill to be specific.  Almost 3,000 flags mounted and put into the ground.  All nice straight rows, and all waving gently in the breezes that grace that beautiful area.

To me there is not another flag in the world that is as pretty as our flag.  Something about the red, white, and blue combination that is just absolutely stunning.  I know others have the same colors, but the stars and bars, is just incredible.  When you see almost 3,000 of them flying in one spot, it is absolutely breathtaking.  HOWEVER, this goes beyond that.  Each flag pole had a name, place of death, date of birth, and many had pictures attached.  Date of death was September 11, 2001.  3,000 people in one day.  All because one group of people hate America so much to claim we are all evil, and need to be eliminated from this earth.

What is so solemn, so mind blowing, so moving, is that once you realize that each flag represents a person who died on one day, it is just enough to take your breath away.  I dont know the total acreage that is covered on Art Hill, but I would imagine that it is probably around 5 acres or so.  To walk among the flags as they wave in the breeze and feel the material touch your skin, it is almost as if that person the flag represents, is touching you and asking for you to never forget.

Some of the 3,000 never knew what hit them, they were vaporized in an instant.  Others, the ones on the planes that struck the buildings, both of the  twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon, could see it coming and could not stop it, and the brave souls on flight 93 saw it, and tried to stop it, and probably saved the U.S. Capital building, by forcing the plane down in PA.  Most of the bodies on board these aircraft were never recovered, they were just vaporized in an instant.  Others took longer, and either died from smoke inhalation, or jumped to their deaths in hopes of somehow making to the ground and not dying, but others died heros saving countless lives while giving up their own.  The brave hero's from the FDNY and the NYPD who ran into the building instead of running away.  ALL of these people are represented by these flags.

These deaths, as a result of an unprovoked attack on this country, should never be forgotten.  We must never forget, never give up, and always be vigilant.  The USA has always been a land of the free, and home of the brave.  Home of the brave, was certainly demonstrated on 9-11-2001.