National Teddy Bear Day -Postcard Friendship Friday #279

Here in the United states, we celebrate National Teddy Bear Day on September 9th.  I adore Teddy Bears, so I loved hearing there is an actual holiday commemorating  these stuffed darlings.

I did some research on how Teddy Bears came into being, and it seems they are named after United States President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was an avid hunter, but that day in 1902, they had found no game.  So, some, er, well-meaning person brought Roosevelt a baby bear to shoot instead.  

I am so glad to read Roosevelt felt that shooting the wee bear was not sporting and refused to do so.  A cartoonist commemorated the event which inspired an enterprising New York toy maker to design a darling stuffed bear named "Teddy's Bear."  The rest, as "they" say, is history.  (grin)  The name morphed into Teddy Bears.  They're incredibly huggable and lovable.

On a more serious note, today is the anniversary of a profoundly sad day for all of America.  September 11, 2001.  I will never forget sitting in the window seat, my husband in the big chair.  He had turned on the news.  We watched the second plane pummel its way through the second tower.  We stayed tuned in for hours which stretched into days.  This event was profound.  I can hardly put into words how it changed my life--and the lives of so many others.  

My family and I visited Ground Zero less than a year after the event.  That story is found here. 

May God bless you all today.  Happy Postcard Friendship Friday.  ((hugs))

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We Will Never Forget -Postcard Friendship Friday #185

I will never forget the morning two airplanes were flown into the twin towers, another crashed into the Pentagon and still another crashed in a field--the intentions of the terrorists thwarted by the heroes aboard.

We were up early, I was sitting in the window seat reading my Bible.  My husband turned on the television just in time to see the wreckage the first airplane had left.  News reporters were speculating about some kind of accident.  Then we watched in horror as the second jet exploded into the second tower.

I will never forget the quiet of the skies as all aircraft were ordered to land and stay put.  There was an eerie silence everywhere.

Nine months later we traveled to New York City.  Our visit to the wall of remembrance, and the viewing of Ground Zero was an experience our family will never forget.

Our hearts continue to go out to those who lost their lives and the families who will never be the same.  We will never forget.

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

The Twin Towers - Postcard Friendship Friday #80

Sunday is the ten year anniversary of September 11.  That date was a defining moment in the history of the United States. And in the lives of myself and my family. 

I remember that spring, just days before  the last bodies of those who had died were discovered, and the recovery effort was declared finished, my family and I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero.  That great scar in the earth had left another one in my heart. 

I will never forget standing on the viewing platform that cold cloudy day.  Hundreds of people gathered there, were silent as they walked up the ramps and stood together.   The air was eerily quiet.  It was as though the bare wood on the ramp was covered with a thick layer of dust.  As you know New York City never rests--it is like the ceaseless roar of a great ocean.  But in that place, sound was somehow dampened.

My husband and son stood close, as my daughters and I closed our eyes and began to sing Amazing Grace in three-part harmony.  Some of the people in the crowd joined in.  

Then as we sang the words, "bright shining as the sun..."  Something incredible happened.  There was a sudden instantaneous break in those cold, dark clouds--a brilliant beam of sunlight burst through, beaming down, sweeping over the huge American Flag, covering Ground Zero where so many lost their lives.  Then a gasp from the crowd as brightness was touching our faces, embracing the hundreds on the viewing platform with dazzling warmth. 

As we finished the song, our little family wrapped our arms around each other, heads bowed and we wept. I don't know how long we stood  there, tears slipping down our faces--but when we lifted our heads, we were alone.  The hundreds of people standing with us had moved away so softly we hadn't realized they had gone.

Though each group was only allowed 15 minutes, the guards told us to stay as long as we wished.  And we did--praying for all the families who's loved ones had died there, for our nation and for the world.

That day touched me and my family in a way I cannot even put into words.  What a blessing it was to feel--literally--the warmth of God's grace.  Suffice it to say none of us will ever forget 9/11, or the people who died that day in the World Trade Center.
 

* NOTE: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the postcards you love and tell us why you like them.

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We Will Never Forget

Just days before the recovery effort was declared finished, my family and I had the opportunity to visit Ground Zero.  The experience is still raw in my mind.  That great scar in the earth had left another one in my heart. 

I will never forget standing on the viewing platform that cold cloudy day.  The hundreds of people gathered there, were silent as they walked up the ramps and stood together--it was eerily quiet.  As though the bare wood was covered with a thick layer of dust.  As you know New York City never rests--it is like the ceaseless roar of a great ocean.  But there, sound was somehow dampened.

My son and husband stood close, as my daughters and I closed our eyes and began to sing Amazing Grace in three-part harmony.  Some of the people in the crowd joined in.

Then as we sang the words, "bright shining as the sun..."  Something incredible happened.  There was a sudden instantaneous break in those cold, dark clouds--a brilliant beam of sunlight burst through, beaming down, sweeping over the huge American Flag, covering Ground Zero where so many lost their lives.  Then a gasp from the crowd as brightness was touching our faces, embracing the hundreds on the viewing platform with dazzling warmth. 

As we finished, our little family wrapped our arms around each other, heads bowed and we wept. I don't know how long we stood  there, tears slipping down our cheeks--but when we lifted our faces, we were alone.  The hundreds of people standing with us had moved away so softly we hadn't realized they had gone.

Though each group was only allowed 15 minutes, the guards told us to stay as long as we wished.  And we did--praying for all the families who's loved ones had died there, for our nation and for the world.

That day touched me and my family in a way I cannot even put into words.  What a blessing it was to feel--literally--the warmth of God's grace.  Suffice it to say none of us will ever forget 9/11, or the people who died that day in the World Trade Center.

For other heart-felt thoughts please visit Bev at Pink Saturday.