[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 24986-24987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      BOOK DEVELOPED BY RON MORGAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAVE WELDON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 11, 2001

  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, Ron Morgan of Cape Canaveral, 
Florida, is becoming a well known expert on the U.S. flag. He has 
developed a comprehensive book, The American Spirit in the New 
Millennium, that endeavors to renew pride in our flag and to present a 
fair case about its legal protections, effectively countering the 
arguments of those who would allow our flag to be desecrated. He wants 
to inspire further research and study of not just the history of the 
flag, but United States history, law and government. I am proud that 
Ron Morgan is my constituent on Florida's Space Coast, and I thank him 
for his hard work and dedication to promote the values represented in 
our flag. I wish to enter into the Congressional Record a chapter from 
his book that was updated since the September 11 attacks:

                    America United--A Call to Honor

       On January 1 in the year 2000, the entire world was 
     transfixed as a glowing ball of light descended above Times 
     Square, amid the cheers and adulations of over one million 
     New Yorkers. The amazing technology of the last century 
     provided live pictures of this joyous event to every nation 
     in the world, as the global celebration of Y2K signaled the 
     grand commencement of this new millennium.
       On September 11 in the year 2001, the entire world was 
     transfixed as the symbol of this new millennium, the mighty 
     twin towers of the World Trade Center, descended in a 
     horrendous roar of fiery steel and concrete, with the 
     unspeakable loss of thousands of innocent men, women and 
     children from America and from 80 sovereign nations around 
     the globe. The amazing technology of the last century 
     provided live pictures of this insane crime against humanity, 
     as the world reeled in terror.
       As the immensity of the horror overcame the paralyzing 
     visual shock, people from every nation on earth truly 
     believed they were witnessing the beginning of the end of the 
     civilized world--or as many describe it, the Apocalypse. The 
     bright sunshine was instantly transformed into the pitch-
     blackness of a moonless night by billowing clouds of black 
     carbon, grey concrete and white ash. Clouds that had not been 
     seen in our nation for 70 years, since the towering clouds of 
     brown dust swept relentlessly across the Great Plains in the 
     1930's and turned America's heartland into America's 
     wasteland.
       Fellow human beings began to emerge from those clouds, from 
     the darkness into the light. Some walked, some ran, some 
     carried each other--but all moved with dignity. The eerie, 
     ash covered figures that stepped out of those clouds into the 
     waiting arms of the rescuers, displayed no recognizable 
     ethnic or racial characteristics visible to the naked eye.
       We were one with them, and they were ours. New York City 
     was truly united in a heroic display of courage, self-
     sacrifice, and compassion.
       The mightiest city on the planet was brought to its knees 
     in seconds by an act of barbarism unparalleled in history. 
     But as the dust settled amid the raging fires that still 
     burned, a wondrous transformation slowly enveloped that scene 
     of mindless carnage.
       The true American spirit began to rise higher than the tall 
     towers that once dominated the skyline of New York. It gave 
     vibrant notice that we have suffered a grievous wound, we 
     have lost uncounted lives, but we will not be bowed, we will 
     endure!
       The spirit of courage that drove our fearless and tireless 
     firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and scores 
     of civilian volunteers, who offered their own lives to save 
     others. The spirit of help that mobilized the entire city to 
     aid and comfort the victims, their families and the rescuers 
     who continued to brave unrelenting danger. The spirit of 
     prayer that brought people of all faiths together, as never 
     before in memory.
       The spirit that galvanized the entire nation, with 
     volunteers from every state and even foreign nations 
     streaming in New York to help in the enormous effort of 
     recovery. The United States Congress and the Administration 
     were truly unified for the first time since World War II. Our 
     nation spoke with one voice, with one purpose and with one 
     message--This terror shall not endure. Our citizens and our 
     freedoms shall be defended and preserved. Justice under law 
     will prevail!
       And the unyielding symbol of the American spirit began to 
     appear on the helmets and the tunics of the incredible rescue 
     personnel. It began to appear on cabs, buses,

[[Page 24987]]

     trucks, cars and subway trains. It appeared on apartments, 
     shop windows, buildings, houses, street signs, light poles 
     and trees. It was worn on lapels, shirts, jackets and hats. 
     It was carried by hand and was waved on high. It was draped 
     on the smoldering steel frames of a once mighty edifice, as a 
     proud badge of honor and an unmistakable pledge of resolve 
     and perseverance in the face of unconscionable evil. The Flag 
     of the United States of America became our rallying cry and 
     our inspiration, just as it has countless times before in the 
     face of tragedy and adversity. It asked nothing in return, 
     just the chance to serve us if we needed something beyond 
     ourselves to remind us of our goal.
       There is an incredible historical mosaic that blends and 
     intertwines the past and the present in every city, town, and 
     village in America. That mosaic was never more vividly 
     displayed than in the streets of downtown New York on those 
     fateful days in September 2001.
       212 years ago President George Washington knelt down in St. 
     Paul's Chapel, nestled near the Battery on the island of 
     Manhattan, New York. It was April 30, 1789. He had walked to 
     St. Paul's from Federal Hall, where he had just been 
     inaugurated as the first President of the United States. He 
     prayed for guidance to lead a fledgling nation, with honor, 
     into the unknown waters of a new concept of government.
       On September 16, 2001 Mayor Rudy Giuliani knelt down in St. 
     Paul's Chapel on the island of Manhattan in the area now 
     known as Ground Zero. He prayed for guidance to lead his 
     wounded city, with honor, in a humanitarian rescue and 
     recovery effort of unparalleled proportions.
       St. Paul's is a stone's throw from the World Trade Plaza. 
     It was saved and preserved during the skyscraper construction 
     that totally surrounds it, only because it was listed on the 
     Historic Registry! The twin towers rained down million of 
     tons of debris that rocked the ground with the force of an 
     earthquake. Loose steel and concrete tore apart mightly 
     buildings and filled the city streets around this hallowed 
     site. But not one pane of stained glass in the chapel windows 
     was broken.
       At Washington's National Cathedral, President George W. 
     Bush spoke for America to the clerics of all faiths, to our 
     national leaders and to the United Nations representatives 
     assembled in the pews of the cathedral. He humbly prayed for 
     guidance to lead this country and indeed the civilized world, 
     into a new age of freedom from terror and tyranny.
       We now realize that the splendor of this new millennium 
     cannot be achieved if we do not meet this worldwide challenge 
     to our very way of life. A challenge that heretofore existed 
     only in shadows and darkness, but now is clear and visible 
     and formidable. The task that lies ahead is a daunting task 
     that will require courage, judgment, patience and--above 
     all--perseverance. The American people are up to the task!
       Let us pledge to each other our will, our commitment, our 
     strength and our steadfast unity. Working together as one 
     people, we can strive to meet the three primary goals of this 
     great nation that are so eloquently described in the 
     Declaration of Independence: That personal security of life 
     without fear; the cherished freedoms of our individual and 
     societal liberty; and, the profound enjoyment inherent in the 
     pursuit of happiness and prosperity.
       Our nation has issued a Call to Honor. The American people 
     and our noble leaders have stood up bravely and answered the 
     call. They have answered the call with their sacrifice, their 
     deeds and their generosity. They have proudly proclaimed 
     their unity by gathering together with the one and only 
     tangible object that truly represents each one of us 
     individually and all of us collectively--the Flag of the 
     United States.
       America United is no longer a slogan. America United is now 
     a reality!

     

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