9/11 Freedom Rally of Remembrance at Ground Zero
Jack Kemp
Congressional candidate and former Marine (if one can be considered a "former" Marine) Ilario Pantano came from North Carolina to Ground Zero and quoted his young sons, capturing the Spirit of the Day.
Mr. Pantano said, "My older boy said today, 'Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be a Navy SEAL!' The younger boy then said, "Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be a Navy Shark!'"
Speakers had come from all over the country to Pamela Geller's and Robert Spencer's "Freedom Rally - Never Forget." Some, from continents away. And the event started, unlike the official New York City 9/11 event earlier in the day, with the National Anthem and invocations by clergy who represented the Christian, Hindu, and Sikh religions. A rabbi, delayed by the still blocked off streets near Ground Zero, couldn't make it.
The first of the scheduled speakers was Rosaleen Tallon, sister of firefighter and U.S. Marine Reservist Sean Tallon, accompanied on stage by her mother Eileen and the next speaker Sally Regenhard, mother of firefighter Christian Regenhard. Both these firefighters lost their lives on 9/11 at Ground Zero.
Rosaleen stated - and quite profoundly - that "9/11 was still happening to the families of those that died on 9/11."
Stating her opposition to proposed Ground Zero mosque, she said, "Our politicians are trying to forget 9/11. This is not about bigotry. It is about love, honor and respect. My brother would have saved Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jew, anyone of any color."
Sally Regenhard then took the microphone and said, "We all acquired a new family: it was a family of grief."
"I'm here for one reason. I'm asking the people who want to build the mosque - I'm asking for tolerance. We have been wounded and we can't stand to be wounded again. Tolerance is a two way street," she added.
Pointing out the difference between the elitist views of Mayor Bloomberg - and some others in Manhattan - versus the views of regular people living in the other boroughs of the city, she then said, "There's no such thing as being Mayor of Manhattan. The people of the other boroughs don't want it." In fact, poll results show that about 70 percent of all New Yorkers don't want the mosque at Ground Zero. This issue as to whether the mosque is at or near Ground Zero came up this week when the moque's brazen request for funding from a Ground Zero economic recovery fund was turned down.
The next to speak was Nelly Braginsky, a Russian immigrant who lost her son on 9/11 in the Trade Center. What she first said reflected the other mother who spoke before her, but she added that earlier in the day, she had been to a 9/11 memorial in Brooklyn where Mayor Bloomberg spoke and no one applauded him. I personally saw the Mayor being booed throughout his speech at the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Triangle Fire in Manhattan the previous spring. Braginsky was witnessing and reaffirming the disconnect between the Mayor and the People.
The following speaker, former Sgt. DiBono of the Port Authority Police, was there on 9/11/01 and dramatically told of "sidewalks being splattered with blood," of people "calling their loved ones for the last time. These words will stay with me forever. America, never forget. Today is Patriots' Day.
This is the point where Ilario Pantano took the microphone and emphasized we must not just wave flags but must learn what to do – before giving us that memorable quote from his sons.
Dr. Ariel Eldad, an Israeli former candidate for Prime Minister, then said that, "We in Israel were hit just like our friends here. G-d Bless America because we need a strong America."
Danish leader of Stop Islamization of Europe, Anders Gravers, then took the stage to say, "It has been ten years, but it seems like only yesterday (since 9/11). In another ten years, it will seem like yesterday. Terror attacks are an attempt to make people submit to Islam. We will not submit."
The next pair of speakers were German Parliament Member René Stadtkewitz, leader of Germany’s Freedom Party and his assistant. His assistant mostly spoke for the German MP because Herr Stadtkewitz had the flu.
"My country has suffered under totalitarianism. Our freedom is in danger again. The killers (of 9/11) were living in Germany and we thought them then to be 'well integrated.' I'm ashamed of my country's indirect involvement. We should have known better. Islam is not a religion but an intolerant ideology. If we don't fight , a new Middle Ages will rule our lives. Freedom must not only be enjoyed. Freedom must be defended. We must stop tolerating the intolerant."
The next speaker was Ezra Levant, "TV anchor, newspaper columnist, author, founding publisher of the Western Standard magazine, the only Canadian media outlet to publish the Danish cartoons of Muhammed." As someone invited to the official 9/11 ceremonies earlier in the day, Levant pointed out that "Mayor Bloomberg said we should not even say the words 'Ground Zero.' The first way to fight is the language. And this is not a day of service."
A few other speakers took the stage. I'm sorry I can't relate everyone's words, but it was a long afternoon. Towards the end, there was a beautiful harp solo. Everyone in the crowd knew what we were commemorating and standing for that day. And it wasn't a day of "service" related to a "man caused disaster" as Mayor Bloomberg would have us believe. We had come to stand for calling an outrageous attack on Western Civilization and America what it is – and to not pretend this could – or should - be forgotten.
Congressional candidate and former Marine (if one can be considered a "former" Marine) Ilario Pantano came from North Carolina to Ground Zero and quoted his young sons, capturing the Spirit of the Day.
Mr. Pantano said, "My older boy said today, 'Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be a Navy SEAL!' The younger boy then said, "Daddy, when I grow up, I want to be a Navy Shark!'"
Speakers had come from all over the country to Pamela Geller's and Robert Spencer's "Freedom Rally - Never Forget." Some, from continents away. And the event started, unlike the official New York City 9/11 event earlier in the day, with the National Anthem and invocations by clergy who represented the Christian, Hindu, and Sikh religions. A rabbi, delayed by the still blocked off streets near Ground Zero, couldn't make it.
The first of the scheduled speakers was Rosaleen Tallon, sister of firefighter and U.S. Marine Reservist Sean Tallon, accompanied on stage by her mother Eileen and the next speaker Sally Regenhard, mother of firefighter Christian Regenhard. Both these firefighters lost their lives on 9/11 at Ground Zero.
Rosaleen stated - and quite profoundly - that "9/11 was still happening to the families of those that died on 9/11."
Stating her opposition to proposed Ground Zero mosque, she said, "Our politicians are trying to forget 9/11. This is not about bigotry. It is about love, honor and respect. My brother would have saved Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jew, anyone of any color."
Sally Regenhard then took the microphone and said, "We all acquired a new family: it was a family of grief."
"I'm here for one reason. I'm asking the people who want to build the mosque - I'm asking for tolerance. We have been wounded and we can't stand to be wounded again. Tolerance is a two way street," she added.
Pointing out the difference between the elitist views of Mayor Bloomberg - and some others in Manhattan - versus the views of regular people living in the other boroughs of the city, she then said, "There's no such thing as being Mayor of Manhattan. The people of the other boroughs don't want it." In fact, poll results show that about 70 percent of all New Yorkers don't want the mosque at Ground Zero. This issue as to whether the mosque is at or near Ground Zero came up this week when the moque's brazen request for funding from a Ground Zero economic recovery fund was turned down.
The next to speak was Nelly Braginsky, a Russian immigrant who lost her son on 9/11 in the Trade Center. What she first said reflected the other mother who spoke before her, but she added that earlier in the day, she had been to a 9/11 memorial in Brooklyn where Mayor Bloomberg spoke and no one applauded him. I personally saw the Mayor being booed throughout his speech at the 100th Anniversary Commemoration of the Triangle Fire in Manhattan the previous spring. Braginsky was witnessing and reaffirming the disconnect between the Mayor and the People.
The following speaker, former Sgt. DiBono of the Port Authority Police, was there on 9/11/01 and dramatically told of "sidewalks being splattered with blood," of people "calling their loved ones for the last time. These words will stay with me forever. America, never forget. Today is Patriots' Day.
This is the point where Ilario Pantano took the microphone and emphasized we must not just wave flags but must learn what to do – before giving us that memorable quote from his sons.
Dr. Ariel Eldad, an Israeli former candidate for Prime Minister, then said that, "We in Israel were hit just like our friends here. G-d Bless America because we need a strong America."
Danish leader of Stop Islamization of Europe, Anders Gravers, then took the stage to say, "It has been ten years, but it seems like only yesterday (since 9/11). In another ten years, it will seem like yesterday. Terror attacks are an attempt to make people submit to Islam. We will not submit."
The next pair of speakers were German Parliament Member René Stadtkewitz, leader of Germany’s Freedom Party and his assistant. His assistant mostly spoke for the German MP because Herr Stadtkewitz had the flu.
"My country has suffered under totalitarianism. Our freedom is in danger again. The killers (of 9/11) were living in Germany and we thought them then to be 'well integrated.' I'm ashamed of my country's indirect involvement. We should have known better. Islam is not a religion but an intolerant ideology. If we don't fight , a new Middle Ages will rule our lives. Freedom must not only be enjoyed. Freedom must be defended. We must stop tolerating the intolerant."
The next speaker was Ezra Levant, "TV anchor, newspaper columnist, author, founding publisher of the Western Standard magazine, the only Canadian media outlet to publish the Danish cartoons of Muhammed." As someone invited to the official 9/11 ceremonies earlier in the day, Levant pointed out that "Mayor Bloomberg said we should not even say the words 'Ground Zero.' The first way to fight is the language. And this is not a day of service."
A few other speakers took the stage. I'm sorry I can't relate everyone's words, but it was a long afternoon. Towards the end, there was a beautiful harp solo. Everyone in the crowd knew what we were commemorating and standing for that day. And it wasn't a day of "service" related to a "man caused disaster" as Mayor Bloomberg would have us believe. We had come to stand for calling an outrageous attack on Western Civilization and America what it is – and to not pretend this could – or should - be forgotten.
posted by Timothy Birdnow | 4:35 AM
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