FIVE YEARS LATER…

Mornings are for waking up happy, going on with your business and enjoying life. But the morning of September 11, 2001, wasn’t to be one of those simple mornings. Nothing could have prepared us for that morning’s tragedy. Over 5,000 men, women and children from the United States and many other nations around the world lost their lives in the attacks that day. Though the greatest number of lives lost was at the World Trade Center, lives were also lost at the Pentagon, and at the fourth crash site in Pennsylvania.

By the end of that day, we were out of tears, but our love for America, fellow Americans, and those we lost and the family and friends who lost them, overflowed.

America is a different nation since September 11, 2001. The firefighters, police and ordinary citizens demonstrated their heroism by giving up their lives, their tireless energy, and their assets to save, help and rebuild after the destruction of September 11th.

Even five years later, America is rallying behind the effort to make it known that our nation is still united. Being avid sports enthusiasts, most of us have admired and considered heroes those exceptionally talented men and women who play sports. However, in the aftermath of September 11th, we have certainly changed our perspectives.

With many American troops engaged in the defense of freedom at home and abroad, we in Babe Ruth League, Inc. would like to honor a different king of hero. We want to let each and every one of our men and women in uniform know they have our support, our respect and our gratitude as they carry out their mission. Together, as a nation, it is important to show our troops and their families, who give so much and ask so little in return, just how much we admire and appreciate them.

To our managers, coaches, players and volunteers who have supported the program and our nation by purchasing flag pins and emblems, I urge each of you to wear them today and to remember our fallen heroes. Unlike the real heroes, those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 along with those who tried to save them, as well as the courageous men and women currently serving in the military, they were never asked for autographs or sought after for television appearances. It stands without saying that these heroes think (or thought) more of others than others think of them. Babe Ruth League, Inc. salutes those real heroes for their sacrifices and for their support of our great nation.

You will never be forgotten!