That day our president, sworn to protect us on God’s Bible, simply flew away and vanished without a word. An equally feckless, hysterical Congress rushed frantically to hide in the safety of deep congressional bunkers. Later that evening, when it was safe, they belatedly milled about on the Capitol steps and pathetically tried to sing “God Bless America.”

However, God was not blessing America that day, nor answering prayers of doomed, desperate souls screaming his name from smoking windows of burning buildings before plunging silently down into the abyss. God, like our President and Congress, was noticeably absent and silent when needed most in our hour of need, our time of crisis.

It was a day that tried America’s soul, tested our character and determined our mettle. That day we learned by deadly example American firefighters and police officers did their job, even when it means they will die! They did not think of themselves. They were not found lacking, nor did they shrink from their duty or run away and hide. They above all proved their honor and in their death became eternally noble.

Government agencies whose job was to protect our country all without exception miserably failed in their sworn duties and obligations. All the political rhetoric and promises of our elected became dust in the wind; as worthless as the silent floating paper sheets drifting and fluttering down from burning buildings.

Without our president, without Congress, without God and all of those agencies, bureaus and services we were led to believe were so indispensable, that day we learned we could manage without them. That day we found we needed only ourselves, we truly only needed each other. On that horrible day, America grew up.

That day, Americans banded together as one people who shared and survived the experience. We emerged stronger and wiser without illusions about Gods, or fragile myths espoused by leaders. We discovered for the first time who we really were. We saw ourselves reflected in the faces of other Americans and liked what we saw, for it was good. That day there was a collective, electrical awareness of human mortality and self-worth, a validation of life; a connection to universal energy shared by all. We found we could easily exchange smiles with complete strangers, that we were not afraid of each other anymore. From the commonality of our shared disaster and tragedy emerged a commonality of our souls.

We treasured the simple joy of being alive, for we had seen death. We valued and appreciated families and loved ones more, because of those who had lost theirs, and we collectively shared their sorrow. We as individuals and as a people became self-empowered and self-assured, for we had survived, we were alive, we were well, and in doing so discovered the humanity of needing each other. We became united, bonding together as one. Together we, the people, would make it through this. We were America.