I was one of those Flight Attendants that was in the air when the unspeakable happened on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001.  I was the lead flight attendant, so the captain told me first and I had to be strong. Then I had to tell the rest of the flight attendant crew and I had to be strong.  The captain told the passengers and I had to be strong.  We landed safely at our diversion city of Indianapolis and I had to be strong.  We got to the hotel and watched in helpless horror the events of this fateful day and I had to be strong. I was the lead flight attendant and had to keep up on the most current information as to what, when, and where we might be able to make it back to our loved ones and I had to be strong.

Finally, we made it home later that Friday. The office manager said there were employee assistance counselors that were in the office if anyone needed to talk. I raised my hand and went into the office with the counselor. I could finally cry.

I cried for the air crews who I know fought with all their training to prevent the events that took place. I cried for the horrified passengers that knew their time had come. I cried for all the innocent people on the ground who lost their lives not only in the instant of impact but those unsung heroes that tried to help those already in need. I cried for America. I cried for freedom.

I call on Americans to arise. I call on each and every one of you to become strong from the ashes of despair. We all have the strength to fight back the evil oppression that perpetrated these horrific events.  I attended a community gathering that Friday night when I got home. They had people go up and speak their peace. I was still too raw to say anything. Thank God for the people who got up and spoke because you could see it in the faces of the crowd that this was the beginning of their own private healing.  It was for me. Another thing that struck me about the people there: the diversity of age, race and religion. But you know what?  WE WERE ALL AMERICANS!!! As the song goes, "This is my country, land of my birth, this is my country, grandest on earth!"

This is so true. Having traveled a great deal around the world, I can attest to this fact.

Let us draw on this diversity as American citizens to give us the strength to rebuild our nation and to protect our freedoms that so many have died for. Let their deaths not be in vain. Since our way of life was hard fought for, let us work with our local, state and national officials to make it a little harder for just any one to cross our border to prove to us they are worthy to benefit from our hard fought freedoms. To make our officials accountable so this does happen. Go out into your community and volunteer for whatever is the passion in your heart.

My passion is our youth, I realized, helping in my community with a local theater group for kids and a scholarship program for young women.

My challenge to you as n American citizen is to find your passion, your spiritual strength to help rebuild our nation. Nothing is too small. Embrace our diversity to help heal, don't let it divide us: that we as Americans can set that shining example, that freedom all over the world is worth fighting for. Let there be no more "lost generations". We are different, we are the same, we are American Citizens.

AMERICA ARISE.

Your Fellow American Citizen,
Diane Kennish
dianekennish70@yahoo.com
(used by permission of Diane Kennish)