Every American now living will remember where he or she was on that fateful day. We will all remember what we were doing, where, and when. We will never forget the shocking images. Live. On national television. Repeated over and over.

The shock quickly turned to anger, to outrage, and finally to determination. We once again were a united people. For the first time since Pearl Harbor, probably. We listened to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Powell, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Senate Majority Leader Daschle and House Speaker Hastert. Their party designations no longer matter and are no longer relevant. They are all patriotic Americans, and we know they will do what is best for our country.

We are a nation at war. We are also a nation of heroes--men and women of all races, religions, colors, and ethnic backgrounds worthy, finally, of walking in the footsteps of the Greatest Generation that won World War II. We also will do what is best for our country.

The heroism started aloft with the brave passengers who, at the cost of their own lives, seized control of United Flight 93 from the hijackers and thwarted their attempt to destroy yet another symbol of America--the White House, perhaps, or the Capitol Building. The firemen and policemen of New York City were the next to redefine and sanctify the term "the last full measure of devotion." They also will never be forgotten.

The Pentagon--only a mile or so from Navy League headquarters in nearby Arlington, incidentally--had heroes by the score. And not all of them were men and women in uniform. The countless stories that already have been told of the extraordinary actions of hundreds of ordinary people vividly recall the statement holy to all members of the Marine Corps: "Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Hundreds of thousands of other ordinary Americans made their way to local hospitals or American Red Cross centers to give blood. Others gave in other ways, contributing to the many relief funds that were immediately established to help the victims of the 11 September attacks and their families. One of those funds, not incidentally, is the Navy League's own "LifeRing Fund," established by NLUS National President Timothy O. Fanning the day after the terrorist attacks. The LifeRing Fund--every cent contributed--will be used to help the Pentagon victims and their families, to meet the needs of Navy/Marine Corps Relief, and, through the American Red Cross, to help the other victims of the attacks.

Navy Leaguers and others interested in contributing to the LifeRing Fund should send their donations to: Navy League LifeRing Fund, P.O. Box 656, Merrifield, Va. 22116-0656. Contributions also may be made online at www.navyleague.org. Questions about fund donations should be directed to Navy League Headquarters at (800) 356-5760. JDH

COMING UP IN SEA POWER

November--Marine Corps Issue: Exclusive interview with James Bradley, author of Faith of Our Fathers.

In future issues--December: Joint & Littoral Warfare/Special Operations; in January, the 2002 Almanac of Seapower, the most authoritative one-volume reference work published anywhere in the world on the U.S. sea services--the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.