Summary

Time assumes a much different perspective when you are young than it does as the years move along. For instance, in December of 1951, I was almost seven years old; Pearl Harbor was 10 years in the past. However, an event of 10 years prior to a seven-year-old seems much more distant than it actually is within the context of history, or it will seem to that seven-year-old when he or she is in their 40s.

I invoke Pearl Harbor for obvious reasons. Until 9/11/01 came along, the 12/7/41 attack on Pearl Harbor was viewed as the most egregious attack directly against America in the nation's history. Yet, in 1951, 10 years after the fact, Pearl Harbor was far more visible, far more on the country's mind than 9/11 often appears to be now, a mere four years after its occurrence.

I am of the strong view that we would do well to remember 9/11 every single day, at least in general terms. However, the day on the calendar has almost arrived again to do so in a more specific way, particularly to remember our thousands of fallen brothers and sisters.

In 2003, on the second anniversary of 9/11/01 and in remembrance of that ghastly day, I published the following piece. It was nothing more than a collage of material I had written previously, in close proximity to what Americans will now always remember as the "first 9/11." I again posted it on the GRA website last year, exactly as it was presented on 9/11/03. I am doing so again this year. -- http://www.gillespieresearch.com/cgi-bin/s/article/id=652