I was 11 when Islamic terrorism invaded the privacy of our homes and became a household word.  For me reality broke as I watched in horror and prayed as the towers crashed and prolonged searches for survivors were viewed right from our TV screens for the following week.  The uncertainty continued for months.  The anthrax scare.  The crashing economy.  The endless questions (at least for a pre-teen who followed politics closely, even then).

But through it all…and despite the evil. The wrong. And the continuing hate by those who despise our great nation and the American Dream, we as Americans, become closer.  Many Americans turned to God and to each other THIS is what makes America great.