Valor and Sacrifice

Who could forget what happened on that unsuspecting and sunny day, when no visible clouds drifted over the Twin Towers? Little after midnight, the cool rain adds to the melancholy of the descending angels; and I join them in prayer to remember the tragedy! This should be a day of remembrance, not of hatred for the ignoble acts the wicked committed, but would God accept unkindness instead of merciful deeds? They called it another day of infamy, and like Pearl Harbor we were taken by surprise; that was an attack aimed at the military, but on September 11 the terrorists attacked the civilians! It seemed like lightning striking down sturdy trees, and then fire broke out with smoke trails of a thousands feet; " O my God! ", every employee screamed...quickly running down the stairs engulfed by fire...causing an indescribable chaos everywhere! " Take my hand, I will lead you to safety! " the firefighter said to the coughing woman. " Hold onto my arm! " the policeman yelled out to the frail man, who had dropped his eyeglasses and couldn't see! Every firefighter and policeman acted like them, rescuing many without fearing death; and hundreds of them, that awful morning, never returned home alive... what a tragedy for their families that watched in horror and couldn't help! Who wouldn't remember the courage of their noble and willing hearts? And furthermore, who wouldn't engrave their valorous names on plaques and monuments? Up above, by the gates of Paradise...Christ and His Father awaited them to accept their souls; while archangels surrounding God's throne, sung hymns that humans couldn't sing... those hymns that all the earthly heroes will sing with them when Heaven mourns again! Their portraits, pictures and memorabilia hang above the fireplaces, and on the decorated walls of the victims' homes, precincts and firehouses; how could anybody take them down as they were worthless items? Prize them more than gold or diamonds, o friends grieving that tremendous loss even today; don't hate those who caused you sorrow and unbearable pain, be forgiving and show mercy... as God does toward us; o friends remember your heroes for their valor and sacrifice! My poem is dedicated to the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks on America. Copyright 2009 by Andrew Crisci