SHE'D SAY TO CARRY ON...

Great metal tears stream down her face but she still lifts her torch up high to light the way to freedom through a smoke filled Manhattan sky.

She weeps for her police and fire fighters and her EMS workers she has lost, and on her copper shoulders she bears the weight of the heavy human cost.

She hears the cries of the helpless, she sees them in their pain... and she sees the families waiting for those who won't be home again.

Our proud Lady Liberty watched the horror unfold from the bay- what would that dear lady tell us if she could speak to us today?

She'd tell us to stand up proudly 

She'd say to carry on
She'd tell us that those who hate us, 

those who have done such wrongs can't ever destroy the spirit that makes our land so great

America will not be beaten by terrorism or hate.

She'd say to reach out to each other, to face this hand in hand
and show the world how strong the people are that are the backbone of this land.

NO PRAYER FOR 9-11

Marion Pellicano Ambrose 

Again, Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York has given me reason to be glad I moved to Florida! First he excluded first responders from the upcoming 9-11 Ceremonies and now I find he has decided not to allow any religious leaders to speak or offer a prayer. Regardless of the comfort and consolation this might bring to the families who lost loved ones and those who lived through this traumatic experience, Bloomberg has made a political decision rather than one from the heart.

Our country was built on the principal of freedom OF religion, not FROM religion. How beautiful would it be to have all faiths represented, all races, religions, philosophies and socioeconomic levels together with one purpose: to remember and honor.

The days of patriotism, faith and enthusiasm are not gone. Americans can and should stand up and speak out, or in this case PRAY OUT!  Isn’t that what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did? Didn’t our founding fathers rely on faith and prayer to see them through? We need to show Mayor Bloomberg that America is not silent or apathetic. We are still the spirit filled, passionate, patriotic, rebels who rose against the powers that tried to infringe on our freedom so many years ago! This is the opportunity for us, as Americans, to defeat these attempts by politicians to stifle our spiritual expression and silence the voices of our souls.

Pray on 9-11. Pray loud and clear so that our voices will echo through the World Trade Center site, through the hallways of the Pentagon, and across that field in Pennsylvania. Pray for those who lost their lives, those who lost their loved ones, and those who lost their faith that day. Pray for our country and its leaders, that we can enter into a new era where we can once again hold our heads high in the global community and say with assurance, America is the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I read an article by Tom Wetzel, http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/09/raise_your_prayers_on_911_tom.html

that challenged those at the ceremonies at Ground Zero to begin a “flash prayer” by reciting a formal, standard prayer, like the Our Father, and all who will be watching on TV to join with them in spite of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to omit prayer. He stated:

“Those who do raise their hearts heavenward can be certain they will lift the spirits of those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as all those who have died defending our country since then. Sept. 11 will offer America a chance to deepen its connection with its creator and honor its victims and heroes. Hopefully, they will take advantage of this opportunity.”

I couldn’t agree more!

TV SPECIALS ON 9-11 ANNIVERSARY; WILL YOU BE WATCHING?

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

NEW CBS SPECIAL: 9-11, 10 YEARS LATER

The 10^th anniversary of 9-11 is close at hand. A new CBS special “9-11, 10 Years Later” will be aired on September 11, 2011 at 8pm and will document the changes that have taken place at Ground Zero since that awful day in 2001. It will also highlight the lives of some of the first responders at the scene of the tragedy. Robert DiNiro, who narrated the original CBS special, will also host this follow up program. DiNiro is from the Downtown New York area himself.

It will be interesting to see how many Americans tune in to see the unveiling of Ground Zero by President Obama. Over the past 10 years it seems the patriotism, support for first responders and participation in memorials has waned somewhat in the US. In addition, it seems that September 11, 2011 will be the date of the first full slate of games for the NFL season!

New DISCOVERY CHANNEL Special – Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero

The Discovery Channel will be airing a special series produced by Steven Spielberg on Sunday, August 28 which will air commercial free on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center Complex.

Executive Producer Steven Spielberg, Discovery and Science Channel Present RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO
A Two Week Television Event Marks the Rebirth of a City as the 10^th Anniversary of 9/11 Approaches
Premieres Commercial Free Thursday, August 25 at 8PM E/P on Discovery Channel,
All Day Encore Marathon on Science Channel Sunday, September 11 beginning at 5PM E/P

From executive producer Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Television, Discovery Channel and Science Channel comes the story of hope from darkness, life from ashes, a dream born from a nightmare.  RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO, premiering Friday, August 25 at 8PM E/P on Discovery Channel, showcases the men and women determined to rebuild and restore a sacred site, constructing the new, 104-story One World Trade Center.

“Discovery Channel is proud to be sharing this important story and transitional moment in the history of our country.  With incredible access and deft storytelling, RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO captures a city and a country moving forward but never forgetting.  September 11^th is something we all share and RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO will be a touchstone for audiences to remember, reflect and look forward,” said Debbie Myers, General Manager of Science Channel.

The six-hour special premieres Thursday, August 25 and concludes Thursday, September 1 from 8-11PM ET/PT each night.

Science will encore Discovery Channel’s RISING: REBUILDING GROUND ZERO on Sunday, August 28 from 8-11PM ET/PT and Sunday, September 4 from 8-11PM ET/PT. The entire six-hour special will re-air on Sunday, September 11 at 5PM ET/PT.

 I hope on September 11, 2011, every American will have their flag flying, their hearts filled with pride and remembrance, and their souls strengthened and determined never to forget those who lost their lives in the attack and those who gave their lives so others might survive. The staff of DRL sends our love and prayers out to the survivors and the friends and family members of the victims of this tragedy. Many of us lost loved ones and friends as well. Remember: VOTE WISELY, GET INVOLVED, EDUCATE YOURSELF ON WORLD AND LOCAL ISSUES, PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ITS LEADERS!