In honor of those who’s journey ended on Sept. 11, 2001, the first responders who ran into buildings and the ordinary citizens-turned-heroes who chose to act by downing Flight 93 in that Pennsylvania field. Their selfless act saved countless lives and preserved another symbol of America.

In their honor, I can only repeat the words of President Lincoln as he attempted to honor the heroes who gave their lives in a struggle between good and evil on a field in Pennsylvania near Gettysburg:

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. … We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Those words still echo across the hearts and minds of lovers of liberty around the world. God Bless America.

The last bite…

The next time you enjoy a meal with family, friends, or business associates take a moment to remember those families who deal with the loss of their loved one from the horrific acts of 9/11 and would give anything to enjoy one last meal with them. I give the heroes of America, both living and lost, 5 (out of 5) crumbs!

Buddy Boe, a resident of Garyville, owns a public relations and program management company and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears Wednesdays in L’Observateur.