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Disclaimer: This chapter is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and their families. Every American was affected by this tragedy in their own way. I've refrained from writing about this tragedy because I wasn't sure how to put into my own words exactly how I felt, but almost a year after the tragedy I've decided to put my feeling into words. I wanted to give Margaret in this chapter the emotions I felt watching the horror unfold in front of my eyes. I hope you all enjoy on of the final installments of After "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen". Chrissie

Crabapple Cove, Maine
September 11, 2001

Margaret sat at her desk in the waiting room of her husband's office watching the news as the horror of that beautiful September day unfolded before her eyes. She had been watching the television since she turned it on shortly before the first plane struck. She called for Hawkeye to come see this and he walked down the hall in utter shock. The two sat there watching every frame. They had seen destruction before but nothing magnitude. The second plane hit live on television, Margaret gasped and began to cry. Moments later the Pentagon was on fire. She looked a her husband and said, "What's going on? I don't understand how people could do this. Why is there so much destruction and hate in this world? I never understood why innocent people have to die. It just doesn't seem real. Oh god! This is the worst thing I've ever seen. I don't know what to say. Oh my god! Ben! It's falling. I can't begin to imagine what those people in New York and Washington must be feeling right now. Why do good things happen to bad people?"

"I don't know Margaret, but I do know this what is happening right now, isn't the end of it. This is only the beginning."

"I keep thinking about our grandchildren, they could have to go to war, and I don't want them to have to go through what we went through. To see the horror we saw. I don't want our son to go to war again. I don't want our daughter to have to how badly it feels to have her boys go to war. I'm scared."

"I am too."

"Why is this so hard to grasp?"

"I don't know."

"We lived through Pearl Harbor."

"I don't think that was as bad as this."

"It doesn't even compare."

"No sweetie it doesn't."

That day Hawkeye and Margaret sat with their eyes glued to the T.V. to reveal one horror after the next. They started a blood drive in the office for blood to be sent to the Red Cross. Days later their worse fear had come true, the U.S. was going to war. They were never more proud to be an American than they were after the tragedies in Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania. Our freedom was threatened on what started as a beautiful September day, which soon turned to tragedy, but America can back stronger as she always does.

God Bless America!!!!!!