moments of silence

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I was moved this morning as three moments of silence were observed at the times the planes hit there targets on September 11th, 2001. These moments are powerful because we take time to remember those who have passed. Let us not forget in these solemn moments the lives of the Firefighters, Policemen, and other first responders at those sites. Let us also not forget the soldiers who lost there lives in the aftermath of these events. All of these brave men and women are the true action heroes who showed there courage, commitment and resolve with grace and dignity.

After 9/11, I was able to witness first hand the aftermath and its affect. I remember standing on a make-shift stage in Iraq performing, when an officer walked onto the stage and said that all medical personnel and those of certain blood types, were needed immediately in the medical facility as casualties were coming in. Half of the audience left, the rest were, of course, visually moved. It was my job to relieve there tension and stress. So I continued. It was a powerful moment that I will never forget.

After 9/11 we were all in shock. I was performing at the Maryland Renaissance festival. The festival decided to open the following weekend. I remember walking onstage to a standing room only audience. You could feel the energy from the audience. They were silently saying ,”please entertain us.” It was visceral. In one of our shows, the one called ,”The Hack and Slash Ale Extravaganza,” my comedy partner and I had a series of comedy toasts. My partner began his toast and said,” I propose a toast!” In the pause afterwards, a woman in the audience yelled out,”God Bless America!” The crowd erupted into cheers. It was a much longer than normal cheer. When it subsided, my comedy partner said,” yes God Bless America, now shut up drunk lady.” The cheer was followed by a laugh that lasted just as long. The audience needed to know it was OK to laugh. The audience needed the medicine for their shock.

After 9/11 it was the actions we all all took that changed the world. People stepped up and risked themselves. Let us remember their bravery. We can argue all day long about the politics of what transpired in the aftermath. No matter what you believe, remember this: Firefighters, Police, First responders, and military personnel risk their lives everyday. They chose to do that. They chose to take whatever actions are needed no matter what the politics are. I spoke with soldiers overseas, many did not believe in the wars. None of them, that I met shirked their duty to step up, to go anywhere they were asked to go, and to put their lives on the line for us.

Moments of silence are profound. They have real emotional impact. In those moments remember also he brave actions by heroes that were taken afterwards. God Bless America.