'Never Forget'

The United States Navy will soon commission its newest warship.

It's name: 'New York'

It's motto: 'Never Forget'

What's interesting about our new Anti-Terrorism Expeditionary Strike Force Warship is that it's bow has been constructed with 75,000 tons of steel left from the ruins of the crumbled World Trade Center in New York City post 9-11. From the rubble of destruction arises a bulwark of sea splitting magnitude, set to defend American freedom and liberty from potential attack. From the epicenter of death, destruction and viciousness, an instrument of justice is elevated from twisted steel beams to set its course against enemies of the Union.

Junior Chavez, a steel worker on the north side of New Orleans is employed by Anite, Fowdry and Madina. This metal salvage company received the WTC wreckage with the order to melt it down and mold it to the needed form for the 'New York' bow. Tears of reflections flowed from the eyes of Chavez and his co-workers when the Ground Zero metal was lowered into the furnace. Those who had died needlessly would be honored by the construction of the 'New York' as a remembrance of lives lost yet not forgotten.

The shipyards of Northrop Gruman took over the construction project from AF & M to build the finest Warship in the Navy fleet. When Hurricane Katrina leveled New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast, the shipyard workers remained faithful to their objective of building the 'New York'. Company President, Mike Pates said it best. "It's personal to all of us. As the city of New York has risen above the horror of 9-11, we can do no less than to stay the course believing that our city will be rebuilt as well.'

Its hard NOT to be fixated on the injustice of 9-11. Images of fellow Americans running the streets of NYC to escape the collapsing Towers of the World Trade Center are haunting. Screaming voices of the entrapped, surrounded by smoke and consuming fire are embedded in our national senses. The personal loss, the emotional drain, the spouse never to come home, the forever parent-less children...the calamity of 9-11 will be unending no matter the passage of years.

"I thought in my heart, 'God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every activity, a time for every deed." Ecclesiastes 3:17

There are many things that we should 'Never Forget'. We should never forget our fallen fellow citizens. We should never forget those who since have volunteered to enter Harm's Way to insure our security and lasting freedom. We should never forget that from the pit of ugliness, God will rise up as Just and have every person account for their life and how they lived it. There are situations, circumstances and people that we must leave to the justice of a Righteous God who will not permit sin to abound without His just retribution.

Today, as you reflect on the history of this specific date...fix your mind on things above, not upon the things of this earth. When you do, you will find peace (maybe not answers) and you can live with the assurance that God's patience is His gift to us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

2,924

8:46 AM

American Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. 87 violated passengers are killed instantly.

9:03 AM

United Airlines Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of the WTC in NYC. 59 innocent passengers perish.

9:37 AM

American Flight 77 strikes the Pentegon. 125 lives on the ground are lost. 59 terrorized passengers are murdered.

10:03 AM

United Airlines Flight 93 crashes near Shakesville, PA, having targeted the national Capital but foiled by the courageous actions of many aboard who will not go down without a fight. They fight. They go down. 40 are dead.

Turnstile counters leading into the World Trade Center reveal that nearly 17,000 people are already in the WTC complex when the first plane hits the North Tower. Over 14,000 have already occupied various offices and floors to begin their workday when the 9-11 Attacks begin.

When the body count from Ground Zero is combined with the death tools from the Pentagon, Shakesville and aboard each hijacked aircraft, 2,924 lives are lost to indescribable, senseless tragedy. Twenty four additional are listed as 'missing'. Many who forfeited their lives, did so with honorable intention, rushing onto buildings to rescue the entrapped. Scenes of gruesome reality on 09-11-01 are captured and transmitted to every American home and business and are broadcast around the world by numerous news agencies. Real time horror on global display.

"I saw the tears of the oppressed--and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors--and they have no comforter." Ecclesiastes 4:1

The wisest man who ever lived (with the exception of one Other), looked at the unexplainable injustices of life and murmured. Why? How could this happen? Who could think this action heroic? How do you sort this wreckage of live out? Where was God when depraved minds devised these strikes against the innocent and then carreid them out without human detection? Why did He not frustrate the plans of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and his accomplices who conjured up this devilish insanity?

Here is one thing that you know is true. In this life that God has let you live...someone is going to hurt you and to do it willingly and sometimes even by design. Not only do we share in this human reality, we also share the after effect...that we are fallible. The injustice of man levying out cruelty turns us to God in admission that we really do need Him. Tragedy strips us of unrelenting ego. Most of us cannot personally relate to the suffering of the innocent and victimized of 9-11 or their families, but we do know that we do not have the means to rise above our 'oppressors' apart from divine intervention.

The aftermath of 9-11 continues to strike deep into the hearts of those whose loss is immeasurable...and reminds us all that each of the 2,924 who perished from the earth will be vindicated by the justice of God on the day when He makes all things right and everything new.

I look forward to that day.