The First Sunday after Easter

Growing up Presbyterian, your Humble Blogger knew that God did not view missing Sunday services as a Sin, mortal or otherwise. We did attend, religiously you might conclude, because our Pastor, Dr. Lawrence, gave one Hell of a Sermon weekly. Additionally, the Youth Group had more pretty girls attending than good looking guys, so I liked those odds. I still remember returning home the last weekend of November 1963, and hearing late in the day that Lee Harvey Oswald's fatal shooting had been seen live on TV that very morning. My reaction then was that indeed God did protect the faithful, as I imagined that seeing someone murdered on TV would be an emotionally disturbing trauma.

Little did I anticipate the trauma of watching thousands of Americans murdered on live TV September 11, 2001, a psychological scar for which last weekend's observances did little to sooth, and in some senses, made fresh yet again. Now, don't mistake me, experiencing again those searing emotions of loss, anger and jeopardy for family and nation, while deeply painful, was necessary in my judgment. We as a nation in 2011 again have become too self centered, possibly too complacent, as well. George Bush can look back with some satisfaction that America proper did not get hit again during his tenure, but he was totally wrong in calling upon us to "start shopping again", as the most patriotic contribution to the war effort everyday Americans could take after 911.

My clarion call, then as now, is for all Americans to become actively involved in supporting the troops, their families and in opposing the efforts of the radical jihadists to subvert our western civilization's freedoms. On the forefront of this war this week will be the Palestinian's demand for statehood recognition by the United Nations. This assault on Israel's existence is just another murderous turn in the "Arab Spring" triumph of fundamentalism over co-existence with the west. As Dr. Lawrence showed me in the early 1960's, always leave your congregation wanting more, so I'll have to return to the existential threat posed by a Palestinian State to a future blog. Cheers.

Why Richard Rescorla Still Matters

Richard, "Rick", Rescorla; born 5/27/39; died 9/11/01 on the 77th floor WTC Tower One.

In the last week of August, 2001, I met my son, Neil, at his Wall Street office (he was then a Middlebury College undergrad, working for the summer in lower NYC). We walked the three blocks from his building to the World Trade Center pedestrian plaza for an outdoor lunch, admiring the stark beauty of the twin towers. That summer, Neil commuted to his NYC job from his home in Summit, New Jersey by train to the Path Station at WTC.

Richard Rescorla also commuted to his NYC job from his home in Summit, N.J. by train to that same Path Station at the WTC. It is possible, even probable, that on occasion, Neil and Rick rode together, possibly having nodded a fellow traveller sleepy morning greeting. I know that they didn't do any of that on the morning of September 11th, however, as Neil had returned already to safe, bucolic Vermont; a circumstance for which I thank God every time I remember that awful Tuesday morning.

Rick Rescorla also was due to be absent from his employment on September 11th, yet he was there, having volunteered to cover for a subordinate, thereby made free to vacation. Mr. Rescorla had an important job - Director of Security for Investment Brokerage, Morgan Stanley, charged with ensuring the safety of two thousand, seven hundred Company employees, then working at WTC Towers One and Five. Rick did his job very well that day - he got 2698 Morgan Stanley employees to safety right after the first plane hit Tower Two.

Then, Richard Rescorla volunteered one final time - he ran back into Tower One just before it collapsed, seeking to find the last two employees placed in his charge. Rick never made it back on September 11th to his family in Summit, New Jersey. Gratefully, Rick's 911 heroism will forever live on, in our collective memory. And, of course Rick's entire life was characterized by him volunteering for life threatening service to others - he was a highly decorated army veteran of the Vietnam war, volunteering to fight after having already served a number of years as a British Army paratrooper. This prior military service reflects Mr. Rescorla's then foreign citizenship, having been born in Hayle, Cornwall in 1939.

Despite his entire adult life having been spent in following the "chain of command", Colonel Rescorla knew when to follow his own conscience - after the first plane hit WTC Tower Two, he ignored the PA orders to all occupants of Tower One to stay put for their own safety. Defying that very bad judgment call saved 2697 lives. Indeed, Mr Richard Rescorla embodied American Exceptionalism - A Life well lived; So, Britian, the United States, New Jersey and Summit are all poorer for Rick's volunteering its premature end. He, Neil, Addison, Audrey, Lyn, elite members, Michele, Mark, Kate, Kim and Donelle are why I try daily to live up to his memory. God Bless America.