September11

I am a New Yorker
I do not live in the five boroughs or on the
Island or Upstate
I may live hundreds or thousands of miles away
Or I may live just over the GW Bridge
But I am a New Yorker

I am a New Yorker
Whatever took me out of New York:
Business, family or hating the cold
did not take New York out of me.
My accent may have faded and my pace may have slowed
But I am a New Yorker

I am a New Yorker
I was raised on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
and Rockefeller Plaza,
The Yankees or the Mets (Giants or Dodgers)
Jones Beach or Rye Beach or one of the beaches
on the sound (Orchard Beach)
I know that "THE END" means Montauk.
Because I am a New Yorker

I am a New Yorker
When I go on vacation, I never look up
Skyscrapers are something I take for granted
The Empire State Building and the Statue of
Liberty are part of me
Taxis and noise and subways and "get outa heah"
don't rattle me
Because I am a New Yorker

I am a New Yorker
I was raised on cultural diversity before it was
politically correct
I eat Greek food and Italian food, Jewish and
Middle Eastern food and Chinese food
Because they are all American food to me.
I don't get mad when people speak other
languages in my presence
Because my relatives got to this country via
Ellis Island and chose to stay
They were New Yorkers

I am a New Yorker
People who have never been to New York have
misunderstood me
My friends and family work in the industries,
professions and businesses that benefit
all Americans
My fire fighters died trying to save New Yorkers
and non-New Yorkers
They died trying to save Americans and
non-Americans
Because they were New Yorkers.

I am a New Yorker
I feel the pain of my fellow New Yorkers
I mourn the loss of my beautiful city
I feel and dread that New York will never be the
same
But then I remember: I am a New Yorker

And New Yorkers have:
Tenacity, strength and courage way above the norm
Compassion and caring for our fellow citizens
Love and pride in our city, in our state, in our
country
Intelligence, experience and education par
excellence
Ability, dedication and energy above and beyond
Faith--no matter what religion we practice

Terrorists hit America in its heart
But America's heart still beats strong
Demolished the steel in our buildings, but it
doesn't touch the steel in our souls
Hit us in the pocketbook; but we'll parlay what we
have left into a fortune
End innocent lives leaving widows and orphans,
but we'll take care of them
Because they are New Yorkers

Wherever we live, whatever we do, whoever we are
There are New Yorkers in every state and every
city of this nation
We will not abandon our city
We will not abandon our brothers and sisters
We will not abandon the beauty, creativity and
diversity that New York represents
Because we are New Yorkers
And we are proud to be New Yorkers
"REMEMBER THE WTC"
And GOD BLESS AMERICA