F.A.S.T. COMPANY |
A letter from underway, after the tragedy . This is a moving email from a naval officer at sea. For those of us who are wondering what will happen next, this comes from an even more poignant perspective. Keep the military present in your hearts and minds as they await their duties. If you haven't served aboard ship -- "manning the rail" is a shipboard ceremony reserved for only high ranking dignitaries, such as Heads of State. This is an e-mail from an Ensign stationed aboard the USS WINSTON CHURCHILL.
September 14, 2001 Dear Dad, Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our next priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be centered around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but been cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and forth within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security watches, and trying to make the best of our time. It hasn't been that fun I must confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated at the fact that they either can't be home, or we don't have more direction right now. We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are sickening. Being isolated as we are, I don't think we appreciate the full scope of what is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects. About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to conduct Shiphandling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we got a call from the LUTJENS(D185), a German warship that was moored ahead of us on the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the WINSTON S CHURCHILL and the LUTJENS got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and we made some pretty good friends. Now at sea they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us close up on our port side, to say good-bye. We prepared to render them honors on the bridgewing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast. The bridgewing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew two whistles - Attention to Port- the ship came up alongside and we saw that the entire crew of the German shipwere manning the rails, in their dress blues. They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We Stand By You." Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of usfought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today. We are no longer atliberty to divulge over unsecure e-mail our location, but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in the days since the attacks. It's amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job. After the ship pulled away and we prepared to begin our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and said "I'm staying Navy." I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but for now, this is probably the best news that I could send you. Love you guys. (anonymous)   |
Theo Dijkman, Holland 
The
people of Holland pray for our American friends.
We're
all very shocked !
From
our heart we wish all those who are victimized very much strength.
Terrorism
must be stopped at any cost.
Theo
Dijkman
HONDENSPORT
& SPORTHONDEN
( K-9
working dog magazine)
Uitgeverij
TOPAAZ
Stationsplein
64a
3743
KM BAARN (NL)
tel.
(035) 54 30 333 fax (035) 54 30 533
www.hondensport.com
Holland,
on Friday Sept. 14th at 12.00 hour exactly,
every
Dutch citizen had a moment of silence for three minutes.
Also
all Radio and TV broadcasting will stop for three minutes. The same for
all traffic by trains.
The
American Embassy in Holland has been overwhelmed by flowers which is still
going on.
Theo
Dijkman.
K-9 Officer Peter
& wife, Uschi Blissenbach, Germany
Ich
komme erst heute dazu dir zu antworten, wir haben die Bilder im TV gesehen
CNN. Es ist eien große Trauer in uns bei Uschi
und
auch bei mir. Wir können es einfach nicht fassen mit welcher Brutalität
der Terrorismus unschuldige Menschen zerstört.
Hier
in Deutschland tauern viele Menschen mit unseren amerikanischen Freunden.
Viele Blumen und
Kerzen
werden an der amerikanischen Botschaft in Frankfurt /Main und in Berlin
abgelegt. Die deutsche Regierung
hat
jede Hilfe dem amerikanischen Volk angeboten. Alle Behörden sind in
Deutschland geschlossen, die Fahnen stehen
auf
Halbmast. Wir sind mit unseren Herzen und Gedanken fest an der Seite des
amerikanischen Volkes.
Translated
via Alta Vista:
I would
come to answer first today in addition you, we saw the pictures in the
TV CNN. It is with large sorrow
in Uschi
and also with me. We cannot simply grasp it with which brutality of the
terrorism innocent persons. Here in Germany
taverns
many persons with our American friends. Many flowers and candles with American
messages in Frankfurt, Mainz,
and
Berlin. The german government offered to close each aid, all authority
in Germany, the flags are half mast to the
American
people. We are with our hearts and thoughts from this page to the American
people. Sept. 14, 2001 -
over
200,000 people in Germany attended a memorial service inlcuding the U.S.
Ambassador to Germany.
Peter
& Uschi Blissenbach (Peter & Uschi also
gave donations)
Constable Jim Slater
- K-9 Storm - Canada 
We share
your sorrow and support your definitive response
to the
attack on America. May God bless you.
Jim
Claude
Marchal, Belgian Police Websites 
I would
like to say that all our people feel with the American people in these
difficult moments of horror and sorrow.
Although
a very small country of 10.000.000 inhabitants, we sent a medical team
and a federal police team specialized
in disaster
victims identification. As soon that the medical team as summarized
what the needs there are,
an
army airplane will bring the needed material.
I'm
afraid we could not do more. Also the European countries, member of the
NATO, have declared that this
unbelievable
act was nothing else, but a war declaration and that they were at the side
of the U.S.
We
had to wait long before to get the authorization to fly to there, but at
least it came from the U.S. Government.
To
the family of the victims we expressed our condolences and words of courage
claude.marchal@skynet.be
Laurent LECOMBLE,
FRANCE 
Président
du bureau Européen
Aillions
toutes et tous une prière ou une pensée dans nos coeurs pour
les milliers de victimes innocentes
ainsi
que leurs familles et amis, n'oublions jamais le sacrifice fait par les
centaines de sapeurs-pompiers,
et officiers
de police disparus dans l'effondrement des tours alors qu'ils portaient
secours aux victimes.
Translated
Let's
all keep a prayer or good thought in our hearts for the thousands of innocent
victims and their families and friends,
and
we should never forget the sacrifice made by the hundreds of firefighters,
and police officers feared lost in the collapse.
Laurent
LECOMBLE
Président
du bureau Européen
.Visit
My Personal Website at http://lecomble-k9cop.fr.st
Visit My Association Website at http://aecops.fr.st
My ICQ
number 105770027.
This
is from the former commander of Danish naval forces and DENMARK's 
representative
at NATO, FHV. vice admiral Jergen F. Bork, sent the letter below to a friend
of mine & he is sharing with you.
12
September 2001
Dear
Robert,
Your
magnificent country, to which I owe so much, both priority spent in my
long service career. has been the victim
of an
unprecedented, brutal and meaningless act of terror, and my thoughts of
grief goes to the American friends.
Please
accept my sincere condolences. Your friend, Jergen.