Empathy is the ability to identify with and understand somebody else's feelings or difficulties. What a powerful word this has come to mean for all of us whose hearts go out to those who have perished, survived, witnessed and experienced the loss of loved ones at the now infamous "Ground Zero."

Although the landscape of the area has changed since Sept. 11, 2001, and the terrorists have all paid some form of justice, and the war in Iraq has politically ended - the residue of the towers collapsing into a ruble of lost souls continues to live on in all of our hearts.

Although there have been many tragic events that have occurred within our country, we as Americans continue to live up to the creed of, "The land of the free and home of the brave." We are a brave country that stands up to the injustice of those who cannot stand for themselves. We embrace the spirit of a free society and the opening of prosperity's door to all. We value all that is right and abhor all that is wrong, setting us apart from others.

Because of this ideology, we persevered and stand even taller as a nation and people. Peace.