Anniversaries - The battle of Antietam, and the attack on the WTC

Today is September 17, 2001 - the 139th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam.

The Battle of Antietam was fought in 1862 during the Civil War.

3,654 Americans were killed.

Another 19,400 Americans were maimed or MIA.

The battle was a Union victory. It's most critical result was the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, which cleared the way for the abolition of slavery in America.

It was the bloodiest single day in United States History - until September 11, 2001.

September 17, 1862 was the first battle in the war against human bondage for profit. The first battle in the war against slavery - a battle that claimed over 3600 American lives in a war that would eventually claim 600,000 - but the United States won the war, and slavery was destroyed forever.

September 11, 2001 was the first battle in the war against the enemies of freedom and democracy. The first battle in the war against terrorism - a battle that claimed what will probably be over 5000 American lives. Will the United States win this war? Will the threat of terrorism be destroyed?

Have we 1/4 the courage displayed by the men in Blue who died on that September day over 100 years ago?

In 1861 the United States of America went to war resolved to preserve the Union, and ended up abolishing slavery.

In 1941 the United States of America went to war resolved to end the threat of Fascism and preserve Democracy and ended up crushing the evil of Nazi genocide while ushering in and fostering an era of unprecedented freedom and prosperity for the world.

In 2001, the United States of America is on the eve of a war where we are resolved to end the threat of State Sponsored Terrorism. Where will we end up? Do we have the resolve to see this through?

There is a staggering opportunity presented here before us as Americans.

Opportunities such as this are very rare - there is a real chance we can turn tragedy into triumph. In a world where communism is breathing its last gasps, where genetic research is on the verge of revolutionizing health care and the quality of human life, where the global economy has raised all but a few corners of the world to a level of unprecedented prosperity, this issue - terrorism, and it's threats to the security and peace of all freedom loving peoples - is the one key obstacle to a new stage in human relations and freedom.

Do we have what it takes? Do we have the resolve?

I know that we do, if we see fit to tap it.

Steel your resolve. Take courage from your fellow Americans. Rediscover your nations legacy, and look back with pride at what this nation has stood for, and the sacrifices it has made to protect those sacred beliefs.

Remember the honored dead of Antietam, Normandy, Iwo Jima, and NYC. Pledge to them and yourself that their murders will not be written off as random and meaningless. Pledge that they shall not have died in vain.