Five years ago, our  nation faced one of the worst events known to man. On a beautiful, crisp early September morn, the world as we once knew was instantly shattered: terrorists struck our shores, killing thousands of innocent people who didn't have to die in the manner they did.

We stood, transfixed, horrorfied, as we watched the harrowing events unfold before our very eyes--and on our tv screens--, not believing, wondering what was happening, wondering if this wsa a nightmare. Soon, all too soon, we found that what was happening was all too real. Our nation was senselessly attacked in a brutal way by foreign terrorists who had absolutely no regard for human life. As a result of their hatred towards us, the United States of America, nearly 3,000 lives were snuffed out in an instant, twin towers  no longer stood like tall sentinals, guarding the New York City skyline, and the Pentagon was left vulnerable, not as inpenetrable as was once thought.

We were left reeling in shock, wondering what would happen next, as the day unfolded, and untimately, grieving for the fallen, both those trapped in the burning wreckages of the Pentagon and the Twin Towers, and those brave heroes who tried so valiantly to rescue the injured, sick, and dying.

I will never forget the searing images left imprinted on my self-conscious, particularly the one of the man hurtling towards a grisly death, falling, falling, from the one World Trade Center tower. I mean, what choice did this poor, hapless soul have? Die in the flames, or die trying to jump to "safety"? Either way, the end result was the same: death. A horrible, grisly (and I am sure painful) death. When I first saw this picture, all I could do was cry. That picture said more about the tragedy than mere words could ever express, and that picture, in kind, resulted in my getting very little sleep that night. All I could do was pray and cry out to God, crying out for a hurting nation, crying out for answers regarding why this, the terror attacks, had to happen.

Yet, in all that occurred that fateful day, God was in the midst of all the chaos, all the fears and tears were not in vain, and even in all the endless questions.

Incredibly, God intervened when that plane crashed in that field in Pennsylvania: for this particular plane was headed to hit the White House. A brave man by the name of Todd Beamer helped distract the pilots, and even though all aboard the plane perished, thousands more lives were saved, preventing even more tragedy and devastation.

It could have been so much worse than it already was.

God intervened in the prayers of America's people. He comforted their bruised, hurting souls, gave people the opportunity to band together as one, and pray, gave them the ability to reach out, help their fellow man. We were united, regardless of color, religious affiliation, regardless of age, sex, or ethnic background. We banded together, willing to help in any way we could, to bring hope, peace, comfort, healing to those directly affected (in a sense, we all were). Churches, once empty, were full of praying people, food banks and shelters for the poor were overflowing with donated clothes, shoes, toys, money, etc., for the terror victims and their loved ones. Flags flew high and proud as Americans showed their patriotic muscles, sending the terrorists a stern message that we would not bow to their tactics of violence and hate: we were still standing--bruised, hurting, and shaking, yes, but still on our feet.

America was still standing.

We would rise again from the ashes and smoke, stronger and more powerful than before. We would show the world that we would not be brought down, and we would fight to the end to defend our crippled, hurting nation from further bloodshed, to keep it from happening ever again on our shores.

God certainly was in control that awful day; now, five years later, we must again be reminded of this painful day, to keep us on our toes, be ever vigilent and put our trust completely and fully in God, not just in times of trouble, but ALWAYS.

God bless America again, and NEVER forget!!

~Written by Bill Sandusky, on September 14, 2006, three days after the five-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. :( >tears!<