Here, tired, still awaiting word, praying, and finding courage by reading our country's history. Let me tell you what I have rediscovered and been reminded of. We as a country started out with others thinking we would be easily beaten. 225 years ago we were just a band of widely scattered, vastly different, poorly armed, women and men who only had 1 thing in common, a belief in freedom and a hatred of tyranny. We went against the strongest country in the world at that time and we won our freedom.

In 1776 the British thought it would be easy to control a small group of rabble rousers. What they then and those that attack us now did not understand, is that we American's believe in our cause, our freedom's, in justice for ALL. In 1776 American's stood together, men and women. Molly Pitcher took over her husbands cannon on the battlefield after a day of caring water and caring for the wounded during the heat of battle with guns raging around her.

Signer's of the Declaration of Independence ordered their own homes destroyed when the British took them over, knowing they were ordering the destruction of all they had on this earth. That band of rebels won that war and out of the ashes of destruction rebuilt their homes, and built a more solid foundation that holds up this country still, 225 years later.

The terrorist that hit our country on Tuesday should have taken the time to learn a bit more about OUR history and belief's. We are the decentants of that band of rebels. We are the decentents of Immigrant parents, who fled relgious prescution, fanime, proverty, searching for 1 thing, freedom. We are stronger now than ever before and we have grown up knowing how very precious our freedom's are. Like the rebel's in 1776, we are many cultures, religions, and races. A melting pot with 1 common unbroken thread FREEDOM.

We are AMERICAN'S and we shall again ban together to over come tyranny. Our flag will fly proudly for many years to come, for it is sewn together with the thread of freedom. Sewn tightly through blood and tear's, through World War's, conflicts and terrorist attacks, sewn with the hopes and dreams of the future. We are the Proud, the Brave, the light that shines Freedom to the rest of the world. We are American's and WE will not be defeated.

That is what I have remembered and what the terrorist should have learned.

Annie Robinson
September 2001