Special Double Issue: America the Beautiful (9-11 Tribute)
Day 1,391, 13:56
•
Published in USA 
•
by
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by Michael Raab
The Washington Herald
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
September 11, 2011
13:54
Special (Double) Issue: America the Beautiful
Table of Contents: Part One
Introduction Article: An Intro to American History
Learn some of the History that makes the USA great
Main Article: "A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy"
September 11, 2001- A day that changed America
Concluding Article: Let me tell you a story…
20% of Americans knew someone affected, did you?
Introduction Article: An Intro to American History
By: Michael Raab
On the Fourth Day of July, in the Year 1776, our forefathers defined what it means to defy. They proclaimed, that the Thirteen Colonies of America were no longer under British rule. This was not the first act of defiance by the Colonists. The Boston Tea Party for example, where Colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded British Cargo Vessels transporting tea and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor… all of that to protest a high tea tax in the Colonies.
Back in the British Isles was something called Parliament. It was a group of elected (and non-elected) officials that got together to decide the Politics of one of the most powerful Empires of all time. Colonists were angry about the fact that they were not represented in Parliament. With no Colonial representation, the Government gave the Colonists higher taxes (because they couldn't protest) while the rest of the nation got a break. Thus the term, "No taxation without representation" was born.
In less then a decade after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the United States of America was officially recognized around the world. The Revolutionary War was just one big part of American History. Not only were we the first and only country to revolt against, defeat, and proclaim sovereignty against the Crown, but we beat them twice. In 1812, Britain came back into the picture to "reclaim their land". They had burned the White House to the ground, won a few key battles, but we, the United States has won the War of 1812.
Not many countries can come back from a Civil War and become more powerful then they were before,,, but we did. After the election of Abraham Lincoln, the embers of rebellion burst into flame and the states South of the Mason-Dixon Line seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. From 1861-1865, brother fought brother, cousin fought cousin, friend fought friend, and American fought American. The Civil War had more American deaths than in any other war America has participated in, mostly due to the fact that both sides were comprised of American Soldiers.
There were many important leaders that defined both Americas. Leaders like Ulysses S. Grant, Robert Anderson, Nathaniel Banks, John Buford, Ambrose Burnside, Benjamin Butler, Joshua Chamberlain, George Custer, Abner Doubleday (aka. The Father of American Baseball), William Scott Hancock, Jospeh Hooker, Oliver Howard, Arthur MacArthur, George McClellan, Irvin McDowell, George G. Meade, John Reynolds, W.S Rosecrans, Philip Sheridan, William Tecumseh Sherman, Daniel Sickles, George Thomas, Robert E. Lee, "Bloody Bill" Anderson, Lewis Armistead, Porter Alexander, P.G.T. Beauregard, Barnard Bee, Braxton Bragg, Jubal Early, Richard Ewell, Nathan B. Forrest, A.P. Hill, John B. Hood, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, A.S. Johnston, Joseph Johnston, James Longstreet, John Mosby, John Pemberton, George Pickett, Kirby Smith, Jeb Stuart, and President Abraham Lincoln. Each of the men above had their own unique accomplishments, triumphs, and defeats. But they all had one thing in common. No matter what side they were on, they were all American.
After the Civil War were the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and the Industrial Age. The United States of America was a World Power. President Theodore Roosevelt sent our Sixteen Battleships painted in White around the world. This said, "Don't fuck with America, or we'll wipe you off the face of the Earth!". The "Great White Fleet" was a huge turning point in American Military History. This is when we took over as "The World's Police Force."
Our first duty as the World's Police was in World War I. If you look over the timeline of the war and where it was going before and after the United States entered, you can draw the conclusion that the United States single-handedly saved Europe from the Central Powers. Not only did we gain respect from the European Nations, we gained new Military Technology from the battlefield.
The Great Depression hit America hard. Like what is happening today in this recession, unemployment is high, and job creation is at a low. But we persevered, we overcame. In 1941, we were thrust into World War II by the Japanese Bombing of Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack warranted the speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt saying, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941… A Date, which shall live in Infamy." During the course of the war, we fought on two fronts, Pacific and European. Once again, we proved that we truly were the World's Police by beating back the Nazis and securing Europe for the countries that were originally occupied. We beat back Japan through our "Island Hopping" Campaign. We finished the Second World War with a bang… well, two bangs. The Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese Surrendered, we had won once again.
Until the Vietnam War, thoughts on America going to War were always positive. I guess it was the fact that we were "Fighting Communism wherever it may be", but we have to ask, what if? What if President Kennedy was never assassinated, would we have gone into Vietnam? There are many what if questions throughout history, and they will all never be answered. Vietnam was not a defeat, it was a withdrawal. In Wars, the United States still has no losses, due to the fact that it was really not so much a loss for us, but a lost for the nation of South Vietnam, which we basically abandoned. My Mathematics teacher tells an interesting story about how he escaped via boat from South Vietnam and waited on the seas for weeks until he was rescued by the U.S. Navy. Anyway, Vietnam was the Beginning of Anti-American feelings that really shouldn't exist.
In the Gulf War, we were called upon again to help beat back the Hun known as Saddam Hussein. Iraq was invading the peaceful nation of Kuwait just for the fact that Kuwait was prospering. Two little known facts are the Iraq had the 4th Largest Military at the time, and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia actually asked for our presence in the Middle East to beat back Saddam. Once again, the World's Police came to the rescue and saved another nation from destruction, today, we are friends with Kuwait, a nation that may be gone if we had lost the Revolutionary War.
Another what if question. What if we had lost the Revolutionary War? What if we had lost the War of 1812? The Spanish-American War? World War I? World War II? The Gulf War? But the fact is we didn't. I would like to quote the great General George S. Patton…
"When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball player, the toughest boxer. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. Because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans." –General George S. Patton
That's just a fact, we don't lose…
Main Article: A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy
By: Michael Raab
September 11, 2001… A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy…
Timeline:
5:45 AM- Hijackers pass Security Screening
7:59 AM- American Airlines Flight 11 takes off
8:00 AM- Conference begins at World Trade Center
8:14 AM- United Airlines Flight 175 takes off
8:19 AM- AA Flight 11 Crew radios in about Hijacking
8:20 AM- American Airlines Flight 77 takes off
8:24 AM- AA Flight 11 Hijackers Transmission is heard
8:37 AM –Air Traffic Control contacts Military (about Flight 11)
8:42 AM- United Airlines Flight 93 takes off
8:46 AM- AA Flight 11 impacts WTC North Tower
8:46 AM- NYC Emergency Forces Mobilize
8:50 AM- President Bush Notified
8:55 AM- South Tower Tenants instructed to "Remain in Building"
8:59 AM- UA Flight 175 Passengers contact loved ones from Aircraft
9:02 AM- Evacuation Order for South Tower given
9:03 AM- UA Flight 175 impacts WTC South Tower
9:05 AM- President Bush Notifies for a Second Time
9:10 AM- Increased Response by NYC Rescue
9:12 AM- AA Flight 77 Flight Attendant contacts Mother about Hijacking
9:13 AM- Evacuation of World Trade Center
9:37 AM- AA Flight 77 impacts Pentagon
9:42 AM- FAA Grounds all Flights
9:45 AM- Evacuation of White House and US Capitol
9:57 AM- Passengers aboard UA Flight 93 Revolt
9:59 AM- WTC South Tower Collapses
10:03 AM- UA Flight 93 crashes after Passenger Revolt
10:15 AM- Pentagon E-Ring Collapses
10:28 AM- WTC North Tower Collapses
11:02 AM- Evacuation of Lower Manhattan
12:16 PM- FAA Clears American Airspace
12:30 PM- 14 Survivors of WTC North Tower Collapse found in Staircase B
1:00 PM- Response at WTC Site
3:00 PM- FDNY Rescues Pasquale Buzzeli from rubble
5:20 PM- WTC 7 Collapses
8:00 PM- Rescue Workers find trapped PAPD Officers
8:30 PM- President Bush Addresses the Nation
On September 11, 2001 I was six years old. The day before was my birthday and for some reason, I always got sick either before or after my birthday. I awoke on the morning of September 11, 2001 with a headache and stomach pains, feelings that I can remember at around 3:00 AM Hawaii-Time. I remember the time because I walked upstairs to find my parents to tell them I was sick and couldn't go to school. They were watching the news about the North Tower being hit. As I sat there watching the TV with them, I was obviously grumpy because I was feeling sick and I would have rather been sleeping then watching something I barely understood. A few minutes later, Flight 175 hit the South Tower, and that image is something I will never forget. No matter how hard I want to forget, I never will.
People my age really don't remember that day, but I do. It is something that changed my life. I did not know it at the time, but as I grew older, I came to appreciate our country more and more as I grew up. Yesterday was my 16th Birthday, and I spent it at a JROTC meeting with my friends. We talked, laughed, a played football. It was great.
I attend one of the most prestigious Prep-Schools in our Nation. A school that our current President attended as well. Many of my colleagues wish to attend big name Ivy-League schools. Me, I don't consider myself brilliant or anything… I'm Average. But I want to be something more. That is why I would rather serve my country by attending a Service Academy rather then going to Harvard or Yale. Our Military sacrifices themselves for us civilians everyday, and for that, I thank them.
For those of you that think 9-11 was a conspiracy, may God Bless your Soul because you are wrong, and it is horrible that you would think such a thing. America is great, and may I ask everyone, Democrat or Republican to join hands to remember all of those people who died 10 years ago today so we didn't have to.
My prayers go out to all the families who lost a loved one on that day. My prayers go out to the people who responded to the attacks, thank you for putting yourself in danger to save others. But my prayers go out to all Americans, and like a news article said 10 years ago, "Today we are all Americans." My prayers go out to everyone in the greatest country on God's green Earth.
God Bless America…
Concluding Article: Let me tell you a Story…
By: Michael Raab
Let me tell you a story. A story about people who lost their lives. Did you know that 20% of people know someone affected by 9-11. Whether it be family, friends, or co-workers, we all knew somebody who lost someone that day.
Let me tell you a story about a girl. She was a classmate of mine. Her family moved a lot for the company her father worked for. She lived across the street from the World Trade Center. A week before September 11, 2001, she moved to Bermuda with her family for business. On September 11, 2001, she knew so many people that died, I don't know how she handles it. Almost every single person in the building she lived in died when the towers either collapsed or when the planes impacted the towers. She told me that it was "By the grace of God" that she wasn't there when it happened. One thing about the grace of God, you can never forget the people who's lives were lost.
Today, she lives in Michigan. But when I talked to her today, she said that she had to live with the fact that everyone she knew at that time was gone. One person, her neighbor was part of FDNY. He responded to the towers, and was killed when the towers collapsed. It's a sad story, I know, but every story about 9-11 is sad in it's own way. I am a bit happy that I don't know someone directly that was killed due to the attacks. But in the years to come, I will meet more people directly affected by the attacks, and I will wish that I met the person they know who perished that day.
All I know for certain is that there will be no shortage of stories to tell…
The Washington Herald
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
September 11, 2011
13:54
Special (Double) Issue: America the Beautiful
Table of Contents: Part Two
Main Article: In Memoriam
Dear Readers,
Due to the fact that the article is apparently too long for eRepublik to handle and caused an Internal Server Error every time I tried to open it, Part Two of the Double Issue was a Memorial Section to all of the Victims who died on September 11, 2001. It made my 6 page Word Doc article 73 pages long. Due to that fact, I must ask that you pay your respects to the victims listed on the link I am providing now...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,62151,00.html
May they all rest in peace,
God Bless America
M.Raab
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
September 11, 2011
13:54
Special (Double) Issue: America the Beautiful
Table of Contents: Part One
Introduction Article: An Intro to American History
Learn some of the History that makes the USA great
Main Article: "A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy"
September 11, 2001- A day that changed America
Concluding Article: Let me tell you a story…
20% of Americans knew someone affected, did you?
Introduction Article: An Intro to American History
By: Michael Raab
On the Fourth Day of July, in the Year 1776, our forefathers defined what it means to defy. They proclaimed, that the Thirteen Colonies of America were no longer under British rule. This was not the first act of defiance by the Colonists. The Boston Tea Party for example, where Colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded British Cargo Vessels transporting tea and dumped the tea into Boston Harbor… all of that to protest a high tea tax in the Colonies.
Back in the British Isles was something called Parliament. It was a group of elected (and non-elected) officials that got together to decide the Politics of one of the most powerful Empires of all time. Colonists were angry about the fact that they were not represented in Parliament. With no Colonial representation, the Government gave the Colonists higher taxes (because they couldn't protest) while the rest of the nation got a break. Thus the term, "No taxation without representation" was born.
In less then a decade after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the United States of America was officially recognized around the world. The Revolutionary War was just one big part of American History. Not only were we the first and only country to revolt against, defeat, and proclaim sovereignty against the Crown, but we beat them twice. In 1812, Britain came back into the picture to "reclaim their land". They had burned the White House to the ground, won a few key battles, but we, the United States has won the War of 1812.
Not many countries can come back from a Civil War and become more powerful then they were before,,, but we did. After the election of Abraham Lincoln, the embers of rebellion burst into flame and the states South of the Mason-Dixon Line seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. From 1861-1865, brother fought brother, cousin fought cousin, friend fought friend, and American fought American. The Civil War had more American deaths than in any other war America has participated in, mostly due to the fact that both sides were comprised of American Soldiers.
There were many important leaders that defined both Americas. Leaders like Ulysses S. Grant, Robert Anderson, Nathaniel Banks, John Buford, Ambrose Burnside, Benjamin Butler, Joshua Chamberlain, George Custer, Abner Doubleday (aka. The Father of American Baseball), William Scott Hancock, Jospeh Hooker, Oliver Howard, Arthur MacArthur, George McClellan, Irvin McDowell, George G. Meade, John Reynolds, W.S Rosecrans, Philip Sheridan, William Tecumseh Sherman, Daniel Sickles, George Thomas, Robert E. Lee, "Bloody Bill" Anderson, Lewis Armistead, Porter Alexander, P.G.T. Beauregard, Barnard Bee, Braxton Bragg, Jubal Early, Richard Ewell, Nathan B. Forrest, A.P. Hill, John B. Hood, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, A.S. Johnston, Joseph Johnston, James Longstreet, John Mosby, John Pemberton, George Pickett, Kirby Smith, Jeb Stuart, and President Abraham Lincoln. Each of the men above had their own unique accomplishments, triumphs, and defeats. But they all had one thing in common. No matter what side they were on, they were all American.
After the Civil War were the Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, and the Industrial Age. The United States of America was a World Power. President Theodore Roosevelt sent our Sixteen Battleships painted in White around the world. This said, "Don't fuck with America, or we'll wipe you off the face of the Earth!". The "Great White Fleet" was a huge turning point in American Military History. This is when we took over as "The World's Police Force."
Our first duty as the World's Police was in World War I. If you look over the timeline of the war and where it was going before and after the United States entered, you can draw the conclusion that the United States single-handedly saved Europe from the Central Powers. Not only did we gain respect from the European Nations, we gained new Military Technology from the battlefield.
The Great Depression hit America hard. Like what is happening today in this recession, unemployment is high, and job creation is at a low. But we persevered, we overcame. In 1941, we were thrust into World War II by the Japanese Bombing of Pearl Harbor. This surprise attack warranted the speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt saying, "Yesterday, December 7, 1941… A Date, which shall live in Infamy." During the course of the war, we fought on two fronts, Pacific and European. Once again, we proved that we truly were the World's Police by beating back the Nazis and securing Europe for the countries that were originally occupied. We beat back Japan through our "Island Hopping" Campaign. We finished the Second World War with a bang… well, two bangs. The Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Japanese Surrendered, we had won once again.
Until the Vietnam War, thoughts on America going to War were always positive. I guess it was the fact that we were "Fighting Communism wherever it may be", but we have to ask, what if? What if President Kennedy was never assassinated, would we have gone into Vietnam? There are many what if questions throughout history, and they will all never be answered. Vietnam was not a defeat, it was a withdrawal. In Wars, the United States still has no losses, due to the fact that it was really not so much a loss for us, but a lost for the nation of South Vietnam, which we basically abandoned. My Mathematics teacher tells an interesting story about how he escaped via boat from South Vietnam and waited on the seas for weeks until he was rescued by the U.S. Navy. Anyway, Vietnam was the Beginning of Anti-American feelings that really shouldn't exist.
In the Gulf War, we were called upon again to help beat back the Hun known as Saddam Hussein. Iraq was invading the peaceful nation of Kuwait just for the fact that Kuwait was prospering. Two little known facts are the Iraq had the 4th Largest Military at the time, and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia actually asked for our presence in the Middle East to beat back Saddam. Once again, the World's Police came to the rescue and saved another nation from destruction, today, we are friends with Kuwait, a nation that may be gone if we had lost the Revolutionary War.
Another what if question. What if we had lost the Revolutionary War? What if we had lost the War of 1812? The Spanish-American War? World War I? World War II? The Gulf War? But the fact is we didn't. I would like to quote the great General George S. Patton…
"When you were kids, you all admired the champion marble shooter, the fastest runner, the big league ball player, the toughest boxer. Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That’s why Americans have never lost and will never lose a war. Because the very thought of losing is hateful to Americans." –General George S. Patton
That's just a fact, we don't lose…
Main Article: A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy
By: Michael Raab
September 11, 2001… A Date Which Shall Live in Infamy…
Timeline:
5:45 AM- Hijackers pass Security Screening
7:59 AM- American Airlines Flight 11 takes off
8:00 AM- Conference begins at World Trade Center
8:14 AM- United Airlines Flight 175 takes off
8:19 AM- AA Flight 11 Crew radios in about Hijacking
8:20 AM- American Airlines Flight 77 takes off
8:24 AM- AA Flight 11 Hijackers Transmission is heard
8:37 AM –Air Traffic Control contacts Military (about Flight 11)
8:42 AM- United Airlines Flight 93 takes off
8:46 AM- AA Flight 11 impacts WTC North Tower
8:46 AM- NYC Emergency Forces Mobilize
8:50 AM- President Bush Notified
8:55 AM- South Tower Tenants instructed to "Remain in Building"
8:59 AM- UA Flight 175 Passengers contact loved ones from Aircraft
9:02 AM- Evacuation Order for South Tower given
9:03 AM- UA Flight 175 impacts WTC South Tower
9:05 AM- President Bush Notifies for a Second Time
9:10 AM- Increased Response by NYC Rescue
9:12 AM- AA Flight 77 Flight Attendant contacts Mother about Hijacking
9:13 AM- Evacuation of World Trade Center
9:37 AM- AA Flight 77 impacts Pentagon
9:42 AM- FAA Grounds all Flights
9:45 AM- Evacuation of White House and US Capitol
9:57 AM- Passengers aboard UA Flight 93 Revolt
9:59 AM- WTC South Tower Collapses
10:03 AM- UA Flight 93 crashes after Passenger Revolt
10:15 AM- Pentagon E-Ring Collapses
10:28 AM- WTC North Tower Collapses
11:02 AM- Evacuation of Lower Manhattan
12:16 PM- FAA Clears American Airspace
12:30 PM- 14 Survivors of WTC North Tower Collapse found in Staircase B
1:00 PM- Response at WTC Site
3:00 PM- FDNY Rescues Pasquale Buzzeli from rubble
5:20 PM- WTC 7 Collapses
8:00 PM- Rescue Workers find trapped PAPD Officers
8:30 PM- President Bush Addresses the Nation
On September 11, 2001 I was six years old. The day before was my birthday and for some reason, I always got sick either before or after my birthday. I awoke on the morning of September 11, 2001 with a headache and stomach pains, feelings that I can remember at around 3:00 AM Hawaii-Time. I remember the time because I walked upstairs to find my parents to tell them I was sick and couldn't go to school. They were watching the news about the North Tower being hit. As I sat there watching the TV with them, I was obviously grumpy because I was feeling sick and I would have rather been sleeping then watching something I barely understood. A few minutes later, Flight 175 hit the South Tower, and that image is something I will never forget. No matter how hard I want to forget, I never will.
People my age really don't remember that day, but I do. It is something that changed my life. I did not know it at the time, but as I grew older, I came to appreciate our country more and more as I grew up. Yesterday was my 16th Birthday, and I spent it at a JROTC meeting with my friends. We talked, laughed, a played football. It was great.
I attend one of the most prestigious Prep-Schools in our Nation. A school that our current President attended as well. Many of my colleagues wish to attend big name Ivy-League schools. Me, I don't consider myself brilliant or anything… I'm Average. But I want to be something more. That is why I would rather serve my country by attending a Service Academy rather then going to Harvard or Yale. Our Military sacrifices themselves for us civilians everyday, and for that, I thank them.
For those of you that think 9-11 was a conspiracy, may God Bless your Soul because you are wrong, and it is horrible that you would think such a thing. America is great, and may I ask everyone, Democrat or Republican to join hands to remember all of those people who died 10 years ago today so we didn't have to.
My prayers go out to all the families who lost a loved one on that day. My prayers go out to the people who responded to the attacks, thank you for putting yourself in danger to save others. But my prayers go out to all Americans, and like a news article said 10 years ago, "Today we are all Americans." My prayers go out to everyone in the greatest country on God's green Earth.
God Bless America…
Concluding Article: Let me tell you a Story…
By: Michael Raab
Let me tell you a story. A story about people who lost their lives. Did you know that 20% of people know someone affected by 9-11. Whether it be family, friends, or co-workers, we all knew somebody who lost someone that day.
Let me tell you a story about a girl. She was a classmate of mine. Her family moved a lot for the company her father worked for. She lived across the street from the World Trade Center. A week before September 11, 2001, she moved to Bermuda with her family for business. On September 11, 2001, she knew so many people that died, I don't know how she handles it. Almost every single person in the building she lived in died when the towers either collapsed or when the planes impacted the towers. She told me that it was "By the grace of God" that she wasn't there when it happened. One thing about the grace of God, you can never forget the people who's lives were lost.
Today, she lives in Michigan. But when I talked to her today, she said that she had to live with the fact that everyone she knew at that time was gone. One person, her neighbor was part of FDNY. He responded to the towers, and was killed when the towers collapsed. It's a sad story, I know, but every story about 9-11 is sad in it's own way. I am a bit happy that I don't know someone directly that was killed due to the attacks. But in the years to come, I will meet more people directly affected by the attacks, and I will wish that I met the person they know who perished that day.
All I know for certain is that there will be no shortage of stories to tell…
The Washington Herald
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
September 11, 2011
13:54
Special (Double) Issue: America the Beautiful
Table of Contents: Part Two
Main Article: In Memoriam
Dear Readers,
Due to the fact that the article is apparently too long for eRepublik to handle and caused an Internal Server Error every time I tried to open it, Part Two of the Double Issue was a Memorial Section to all of the Victims who died on September 11, 2001. It made my 6 page Word Doc article 73 pages long. Due to that fact, I must ask that you pay your respects to the victims listed on the link I am providing now...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,62151,00.html
May they all rest in peace,
God Bless America
M.Raab
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