A Heartfelt Story

“You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.”

~ W. Bruce Cameron

Movie theatres aren't places I frequent much anymore. Years ago, I went to the movies regularly; there were usually good choices to make. In recent years the quality and content of the films offered has taken a severe downturn, just my opinion. And the price has skyrocketed. Not much out of Hollywood catches my interest.

I hadn't been to "the movies" in six or eight months, but today I decided to go see Heart of the Beast. It was a good call.

Heart of the Beast has been heavily promoted on social media. There were so many clips on Instagram that I almost felt I had seen most of the movie. But all the clips I saw looked intriguing. The movie seemed like a solid story worth watching, and I'm glad to report that it is.

Although set in Alaska, Heart of the Beast was filmed in New Zealand. The scenery is spectacular. Brad Pitt does yeoman's work as James Belmont, retired US Army Special Forces officer. But his character's military service dog, Odin (named "Uber" in real life), steals just about every scene. Even Pitt has said in interviews that Odin is the real star of the show. 

The comments on Instagram leading up to the film's release were entertainment in themselves. Innumerable times, the producers actually had to swear in writing that "the dog lives" in order to shore up attendees for the movie. Yes, Odin survives. But any dog movie is going to yank at your heartstrings, and Heart of the Beast does exactly that.

No spoilers, but I liked the ending. It's a movie worth seeing. Even though Odin is fine at the end, if you're a dog lover, bring tissues.

Scene from Heart of the Beast

A Blessed Day

 "Faith makes things possible, not easy."

~ Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, 1895-1979

My father was a huge fan of Fulton Sheen's television show, Life Is Worth Living. It first aired in the 1950s and was revived as The Fulton Sheen Program during the 1960s. I remember Dad watching the shows with studied focus. Some memories are forever.

Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified today at a Mass in St. Louis, Missouri. He becomes Blessed Fulton Sheen, one step closer to canonization. The required miracle that advanced Sheen to this holy status is the 2010 resuscitation of a stillborn infant, dead for over an hour, who was revived and is today a perfectly normal teenager.

The boy's parents had prayed for Fulton Sheen's intercession during the crisis. No medical professional can explain this outcome.

Sheen had a commanding presence, a sonorous voice, and a magnetic gaze. Through first his radio show, which aired from 1930 to 1950, then television during the '50s and '60s, he educated millions about the Catholic faith. One of his most famous quotes is: "There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” 

My favorite quote of Sheen's is from his Emmy Award acceptance speech: "I wish to thank my four writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.”  He had the gift of wry humor, often applied during his talks.

Fulton Sheen was also a prolific author. He wrote more than five dozen books, available at major bookstores and online.

Sheen was devoted to his daily Holy Hour, time spent in silent prayer and reflection in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is said he never missed a day, and he always did it before he was to speak on the air. He died in his private chapel, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, in December 1979.

After the 1960s, there is a generation or two that lost out on Fulton's Sheen's teachings. But he has experienced a huge revival in the digital age, with his shows airing on EWTN and YouTube. I found his entire series on YouTube last night. I recommend watching Episode 1, Quo Vadis America. It is so relevant to current events that I got the chills.

Sheen believed that communism was the worst threat to our nation. Considering the dangerous trajectory our politics have turned to, the man has been proved prescient.

The family of that stillborn baby is jubilant at today's beatification of Archbishop Sheen. They call him "an old family friend" and eagerly anticipate the verification of a second miracle attributable to Sheen, which will be required to declare him a saint. 

My father would be very happy about today's events. Hopefully by now he and the good Archbishop are already "old friends" in heaven.

Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen ~ 1895-1979

Beyond Bravery

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”

~ Isaiah 6:8

I do remember the news story of the 2019 Islamist terrorist attack on a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. But I knew nothing of the remarkable man behind the successful rescue of hundreds of innocent hostages. In Kenya's early efforts to organize a response to the attack, British special forces operator Christian Craighead went into harm's way alone.

Craighead's story is an incredible saga of epic courage. It is worth investing the time to watch the lengthy interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, Episode 339, to learn the details of what he accomplished on that terrifying day.

As frightening as the story is, it is equally chilling to learn of the United Kingdom's relentless efforts to silence Craighead. A highly decorated member of the British Special Air Service (SAS), he relates that he had to sell all his military service medals to pay his legal bills in Great Britain. During an early break in the interview, immediately before he began relating the events of the attack, Craighead received an email from the British government informing him that they have filed a legal injunction against him in the United States.

By any definition, this man is a hero. How could any country not be proud of such an individual? Who would want to prevent him telling his story, and why? One would need to ask the forces of evil those questions. As Christian and Shawn cover in their discussion, spiritual warfare is hard at work on the global stage. 

One of the rescued American hostages, Malee, appears during the interview to tell her story. She was trapped in her hotel room for 22 hours and is so thankful to be alive and so grateful to Christian for saving her life.

Shawn Ryan's interview with Christian Craighead has close to two million YouTube views in three days. I hope the count keeps going; everyone should watch it, especially young people. Craighead embodies all the good qualities our Western way of life has always needed to survive and thrive.

During Craighead's recounting of what happened on that day of terror, I was literally on the edge of my seat, so tense I ended up with a knot in the side of my neck. I had to laugh; Christian Craighead was sitting right there telling his story. Obviously, he survived. But the story is paralyzing in its intensity.

After doing some neck rolls, I went online and bought Craighead's book, One Man In. Last night when I ordered it, it was nowhere on Amazon's bestseller list. Today it's at #5.  Craighead makes several statements about the importance of "momentum" in battle. I'll do whatever I can to contribute to momentum for One Man In. At the risk of spoiling surprises, Christmas shopping isn't too far off. 

The interview is long and worth every minute.

Available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com

History Lessons

Teach your children well
Their father's hell did slowly go by.

~ Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

"Never forget" is a fine slogan for those of us who were old enough to remember September 11, 2001. But a generation later, Americans born since the late 1990s have no memory of that day. It's time to pass on the knowledge of the terrible evil inflicted upon our country.

Share with the young people in your life your experience of 9/11. We who remember all have our stories, seared with vivid detail into our memories. Do not spare the details of the massive carnage wrought by Islamist terrorist hatred directed at innocent American citizens. Talk about the heroes of United Flight 93 and the American Flight 77 attack on the Pentagon as well as the attacks on the World Trade Center. 

Many American families are suffering to this present day from the destructive effects of 9/11. More Americans have died from 9/11-related illnesses than were murdered on that day. More victims of these illnesses undoubtedly will continue to die. That's worth open discussion and remembrance, too.

Explain also how our entire country came together and supported one another during that unbearable time. In these days of domestic division and political vitriol, that part might be the most difficult to convey to a younger generation steeped in our current societal strife.

We must not allow the 9/11 attacks to become merely two annual beams of light. Nor can we allow altered narratives to be constructed around the stark reality of 9/11. Tell the story that those who died that day deserve to have passed on.

Beams of light commemorate the 9/11 attacks on NY's Twin Towers.

While We Have Time

“Brothers, while we have time, let us do good.”

~ St. Francis of Assisi

This quote from St. Francis of Assisi, drawn from Galatians 6:10, became the mantra of the Siller family following the 9/11 sacrifice of their youngest brother, Stephen.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T.org) was founded by his family in Stephen Siller's honor. Stephen's story has become a legend. Coming off duty, he was on his way home when he heard the news. Stephen called his wife to say he was heading back to the city.

With tunnels and bridges shut down for security after the planes attacked, Stephen was stopped in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He donned full gear and ran to the World Trade Center. He was among the 343 firefighters who sacrificed their lives that day in their efforts to save others.

Let Us Do Good, a book by Stephen's brother Frank Siller, CEO of T2T, has been released in honor of this 25th anniversary of 9/11. Siller relates his family's story and all the wonderful work that has been achieved in memory of Stephen. T2T provides aid not only to firefighter families of 9/11, but to first responders who have since died or are still suffering from 9/11-related illnesses, Gold Star families, and disabled war veterans. This year, in honor of this 25th commemoration, the symbolic number of 343 mortgage-free homes will be presented through the Foundation's Smart Home Program. 

Tunnel to Towers Foundation is one of the charitable organizations I'm proud to support. They have helped thousands of family members of American heroes, from 9/11 and the years following. It would be difficult to find a more worthy cause.

While we have time, let us do good.

      

End of Watch

The radio transmissions capture the last moments of men about to die but thinking only of doing their job.

Battalion Chief Orio Palmer, Fire Marshall Ron Bucca, and the FDNY Ladder 15 team had reached the 78th floor of the South Tower. They were working hard in this burning hellscape and calling on their brothers for immediate help. They didn't have time to think about dying.

Click the FDNY transmission links in the Orio's Story page of the Orio Palmer Foundation website to hear the final few minutes of one hero's life. We didn't deserve such men but were so blessed to have them.

A total of 441 first responders, including 343 firefighters, were killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. May each and every one rest in eternal peace.

The final transmission of FDNY Battalion Chief Orio Palmer
Full video on Instagram

The Hero in the Red Bandana

Welles Crowther lived two dozen years. That's a short life. Yet during his final earthly hour, on 9/11, he saved 18 people from certain death in the flaming heights of the South Tower.

Covering his nose and mouth with the red bandana he always carried, Welles guided people to the one stairway that led down to safety. Then he turned around and went back upstairs into the blazing hell. His body was found months later in the Tower lobby, near those of other firefighters at the command station. It's clear that Welles wasn't planning to leave as long as he could assist in the rescue efforts.

His family established the Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust in 2001, bringing forth ongoing good from the depths of tragedy and evil. In 2006, the FDNY Commissioner named Welles an honorary New York City firefighter. This week, President Trump posthumously awarded Welles the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

It would be hard to top his heroic achievement on 9/11, no matter how many years Welles may have otherwise lived. We'll never know. But one thing is certain: it would be far better for us to have more such men as Welles alive today. May eternal light shine upon him.

Full documentary: Man in Red Bandana
The 9/11 hero who saved lives - Welles Crowther

The 9/11 Boatlift

 "A hero is a man who does what he can." 

~ Romain Rolland

I must have heard about this sometime within the tsunami of media coverage following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but I'm ashamed to admit I had forgotten it.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a call for "All available boats" to assist in the evacuation of lower Manhattan. The maritime response undoubtedly exceeded expectations.

Within nine hours, approximately 150 boats evacuated close to 500,000 people to safety. The nautical heroes of 9/11 should be remembered with honor and respect, too.

Click to watch the 12-minute video
BOATLIFT: An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience

Uncommon Valor

Do you ever ask yourself what you would do in a life-or-death situation that would demand action of you?

Whenever I think of United Flight 93, that thought occurs to me.

I hope I would be as courageous as the passengers and crew that decided to fight back against the terrorists. But I'm in no way sure that I would have done so; I doubt that anyone can be sure of what they would do. That's what makes their actions so extraordinary. 

United 93 crashed in rural Pennsylvania, as everyday American men and women successfully thwarted the terrorist mission of attacking another target in our nation's capital. These were people just going about their lives and jobs, thrust suddenly into the path of a terrifying death. They chose to devote the remaining minutes of their lives to mount a defense against incomprehensible evil.

Because these brave men and women succeeded in their courageous battle against the terrorists, the United States was spared untold additional loss and suffering on September 11, 2001.

The Flight 93 National Memorial Park is a place I hope to visit one day. The story of United Flight 93 is one of uncommon valor, a legacy of incredible bravery. It should be an enduring inspiration to every American.

Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, USA

Struck to the Core

Amidst the enormity of the World Trade Center attack in New York City and the drama of United Flight 93, the attack on the Pentagon is sometimes overlooked. This is unfortunate for many reasons.

The Pentagon is the seat of our nation's defense apparatus. The dark symbolism in this building being a terrorist target is obvious. There were 184 deaths at the Pentagon on 9/11, including 59 passengers and crew on American Flight 77. These people ranged in age from 3 to 71 years old. Aside from military deaths, the victims included children and teachers on a school field trip, civilian employees, scientists, pilots, and government contractors. They were there that day from all across America and the world.

The Pentagon attack underscored the totality of the nation's vulnerability to terrorist hatred. Although I live on the West coast, I was employed by a defense contracting company. There were coworkers of mine in the Pentagon for a meeting that day; thankfully, they were unharmed.

An engineer I worked with, who was very soft-spoken and mild-mannered, came storming into the office on September 11, visibly upset. He told me that the parents of his childhood best friend had been passengers on American Flight 77. He slammed his backpack onto his desktop with a fierce outburst: "I'm angry!" In that moment, he spoke for every American.

There was a unity in our shock and grief on 9/11 that I'm sad to think would be elusive today. In remembering 9/11 we can strive to rekindle that spark of solidarity among our countrymen. As in any healing process, it will be slow going. But to survive as the nation we love, try we must.

 

9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon