Bobby Eberle
Wednesday, April 28, 2004

On that Tuesday morning, I rode in my friend's convertible with the top down, soaking in the sun and taking in the crisp, fresh air. I was on my way to the final session of a political conference being held in a hotel near the Pentagon. On the radio we listened to a very unusual story about a plane that had just hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center. The date was September 11, 2001.

Along the way, mixed in with the sounds of the open road, news reports began to tell of a second plane hitting the second World Trade Center tower. Instantly, we knew that America was under attack, but instant knowledge doesn't necessarily lead to instant acceptance. How could this happen? Who was behind it? What would America do next? These were the questions racing through my mind when, in a moment that changed my life, the news story that I was just listening to became a terrible reality.

We heard the loud roar of a jet airplane, and from behind my left shoulder, I saw an image I will never forget. In the span of just a few seconds, I saw American Airlines Flight 77 fly right in front of me and crash in a fiery explosion into the Pentagon. Not only was America attacked, but also we were still being attacked. Every loud noise I heard seemed like another aircraft heading toward a target.

It was a terrible day – terrible not just for the lives that were lost, but terrible for what it did to America. We lost our innocence on that day, and in its place sits a resolve for justice and an ache for revenge.

The events of September 11, 2001, affected all Americans to one degree or another. For some, the uncontrollable urge to help led rescue workers into a no-win situation – a situation in which the goal of saving a few outweighed the risks of losing one's own life. For others, such as Army Ranger and former NFL star Pat Tillman, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 brought clarity to their lives and pointed them in the direction of their destiny.

Over two and a half years have passed since that fateful day, and for many, the ongoing war on terror is just that – ongoing. We take in the daily accounts of arrests of al-Qaida operatives; we see images of terrorist attacks in places such as Saudi Arabia and Bali; we get reports of battles in Iraq. Yet many have returned to a "normal" life. Iraq and Afghanistan are far away. Many of the terrorist arrests have been accomplished through covert actions. There are bills to pay and mouths to feed.

Perhaps the events of last week will remind all Americans that the spirit that binds us all together is also the spirit needed to win the war on terror. We cannot forget why we are fighting or what happened to bring us to this state.

The pictures of flag-draped coffins of American soldiers killed in Iraq are chilling reminders that Americans are dying. They are dying for our freedom and the freedom of others around the world. I can't look at those pictures and not get chills over the sacrifice they made for American values.

I want to stand next to the living soldiers and salute as they do. With each salute, they are saying thank you – thank you for paying the ultimate price. We should all salute. We should all remember that America is fighting a war, and to win this war, the American spirit must be strong.

The tragic news of Pat Tillman is another story that, although incredibly sad, is one of America at its best. Moved by the events of September 11, 2001, Tillman felt he had to do more than just grieve. He needed to fight for America's freedom.

Recruited to play football at Arizona State, Tillman progressed from a special teams player in his freshman year to one of the best defensive players in the country by his senior year. Regarded as too slow and undersized for the NFL, Tillman, through sheer will and determination, sought to prove the critics wrong.

Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals and played four seasons with the team. He became such an accomplished defensive player that he was offered a $10 million contract by the St. Louis Rams. Tillman, remaining loyal to the team that drafted him, turned down the contract.

Then came the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Tillman turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract with the Cardinals and enlisted in the Army.

Tillman and his younger brother Kevin fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and this past December he began Ranger training for an assignment in Afghanistan. According to the Washington Times, "[Tillman] was killed while with his unit, part of the 75th Ranger Regiment, hunting for al Qaeda and Taliban fighters in southeastern Afghanistan."

Tillman was 27 years old.

Upon hearing the news, Arizona Sen. John McCain said that he was "heartbroken" about Tillman's death.

"When Pat made his choice to leave the NFL and became an Army Ranger, he declined requests for interviews because he viewed his decision as no more patriotic than that of his less fortunate, less renowned countrymen who loved our country enough to volunteer to defend her in a time of peril," McCain said. "It is that first lesson of patriotism that we should reaffirm in our own lives as we celebrate the courageous life and mourn the heroic death of this most honorable American."

Along with Tillman, hundreds of other Americans have lost their lives in the war on terror. But, because of Tillman's celebrity, perhaps all Americans will take notice and remember that to win this war America needs strength, not just on the battlefield but also here at home.

We are all in this fight – some with words, some with actions, and some with armor and weapons. This is a long war, a war that will test our resolve. We should fly our flags, salute our soldiers and love our families. Most of all – we should remember.

Bobby Eberle is President and CEO of GOPUSA (www.GOPUSA.com), a news, information and commentary company based in Houston, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Rice University.