Dear America~

I am saddened over the anniversary of what happened six years ago today. Six years ago, you were attacked by people who hold absolutely no regard for human life; as a result of this, their hate towards us, nearly 3,000 people--men, women, children--needlessly lost their lives--and the world as we knew it was changed. Forever.

I have tried to make sense of the reasoning behind the attacks, but my mind fails me. I can't come up with a good answer, except to say that it was pure, unadulterated EVIL behind the attacks and that foreign nations tried to bring us to our knees because they hate everything that doesn't conform to their (twisted, sick) beliefs.

I have tried to get over it, but the truth of the matter is this: I will NEVER get over it. How can people just move on after somerthing like this has happened? How can they live life knowing that we were attacked, that people they may have lived with, worked with, etc. DIED? How can they say that it won't happen again?? How can they live with themselves after witnessing one of the most horrendous acts of violence ever?

I am mad because the terrorists who planned the whole thing are still alive; nobody knows where they are, or how to find them, or to bring them to swift justice. I am mad because my brother could have been one of the casualties (I just thank God he wasn't!) ,and I don't think I would ever want to know what it was like to lose a friend or a loved one to such a devastating attack.

I am sad because we knew a lady in New York (Stephanie Green) who died in the attacks; she was a friend of my mom's, and we know another lady who lost 11 of her co-workers when the first plane hit the North Tower. The tragedy of September 11, 2001 has affected me deeply--no, it's affected ALL of us deeply, more than what many people may realize.

I have nightmares of that day and I still can't look at the New York City skyline without lumping up or my eyes filling with tears. I think back to how beautiful the twins once were, and how they collapsed in a rush of smoke, and how they are no more, but a distant memory. I have been fortunate to have seen the twins in person, and it was an incredible experience that I will always remember for the rest of my days.

I can't watch the news (especially now, what with all the focus on the anniversary of September 11); I can't watch the videos; I find it all too upsetting, too unsettling, too unnerving. I also don't want to start hating the people behind the attacks (I can pray for them, but that's all; God CAN change things!), I want to do the Christian thing by praying that God changes their hearts/minds. (He CAN, you know; after all, he DID change MINE.)

We are going to honor you in a community wide tribute to the attacks. I will be singing, as will my sister, Ronee', and I will also be doing sign language for the deaf/hard-of-hearing in attentdance. I feel it is a necessary part of my life to participate, as a way of my remembering the carnage that happened six years ago today.

May we never forget and always, ALWAYS remember!

To forget would only be asking for trouble--BIG trouble. We CAN get hit again by terrorists if we don't do something quick in order to protect our nation. We are still quite vulnerable for further attack and until we wise up and start taking the necessary precautions, we will never be truly safe.

One September 11, 2001 was more than enough--we don't NEED another one!!

God bless America again and NEVER, EVER forget!!

~Johnny Sandusky, aged 14 1/2. :( >tears!<