Tribute to Soichi Numata--9/11 one of the 2996

Quotes of the Week: September 7-10, 2006 provided by Center For Individual Freedom (CFIF)

"Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could...

"This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”

President George W. Bush, In a TelevisedAddress To The Nation on September 11, 2001

Pete Hamill, Former New York Daily News Columnist and Editor, Likening Visitors Who Come to New York, Pause at Ground Zero and Then Move On, to New Yorkers Today:

"... they resemble New York itself. For those of us who were here that morning, the horror can rise again at odd moments: at the sound of a police siren, a low-flying airliner, a fire truck screaming to someplace unseen. The heart skips. We pause, look anxiously skyward, and then the moment passes.”

Cal Thomas, Syndicated Columnist, on the Five-Year
Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks:

"'Remember the Alamo' 'Remember the Maine' and 'Remember Pearl Harbor' were rallying cries from past wars. Why do Americans have to be reminded to remember? We had better not forget 9/11 and the signal it sent. The enemy won't forget. For him, 9/11 was a continuation in a long war against America. He thinks he can wait us out. He thinks we're weak and will wilt before his demands in order to save our lives. He is betting everything he is right. Is he? Ask me on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.”

Soichi Numata --- edit --- father, in Tokyo said, ''I can't do anything...it is a shocking incident no one can comprehend.''

(Source Look Smart)

These are some the quotes I have seen on the net this past week, with the exception of the Soichi Numata father’s quote from 2001. I have been trying to write this tribute the past few days, as the event of September 11th has once again intruded on space-time. I have felt inadequate. Unable to speak to the tragedy that befell the United States in 2001, the never forget sentiment runs long and deep and true for me. Not just as a US citizen, but as a citizen of the planet.

To summarize a person’s life, in a few words felt empty, barren, and cold. It felt meaningless. As if a person’s life, we pay tribute to this day, was nothing more than a rolled up newspaper article.

How do we show honor and distinction to a person whose life as a deputy general manager of Fuji Bank was lost in the sea of names that was missing that fateful day in September?

How do we show honor and distinction to a person whose life as father of a fourteen year old daughter (now possibly nineteen years old), who was away at camp, at the time of his death?

How do we show honor and distinction to person that was husband to Noriko, who spent time together playing golf on the weekend?

How do we show honor and distinction to a person who worked diligently by getting up early and getting home late, but made time for his family at home in Irvington, New York?

How do we illustrate that he was New York Yankee fan—until his fellow countryman Ichiro Suzuki had just started to play for the Seattle Mariners?

How do we show honor and distinction to a person diligently day-in and day-out inspired those around him on the 82nd floor of 2 World Trade Center, and aspired to do the best for his family, his country—Japan?

How do we show honor and distinction to a 45 year old man, who will no longer be among us, his family, this planet?

Simple, although, he may have been a Japanese citizen—and a father and a husband, he is a member of the world community. But on this day, days of days, the day that earth was rocked, Soichi Numata, is America’s citizen and we will do our best---I will do my best to remember Soichi Numata. To never forget him, his family, the victims of 9/11.

We Will Never forget!