Read Chicken Soup for the Soul of America Online
Authors: Jack Canfield
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
What People Are Saying About
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
. . .
“
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
brought to the surface all the feelings that were locked inside as a result of the September 11 tragedies. It helped me to deal with the emotions that I had put on hold.”
Lois Sloane
businesswoman, New York
“These heartwarming stories are a testimonial to the spirit and courage of Americans. I smiled and I cried as I read how ordinary citizens were affected by and responded to the events of September 11. It is a fitting memorial to those whose lives were lost and an inspiration to those who live on without them.”
Joyce Williams
director of operations
American Red Cross, Southern California Blood Services
“
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
will touch and heal the lives and hearts of many. Reading the experiences of my comrades made me realize how important my job of helping others and saving lives really is. I plan to share these inspiring stories of patriotism and courage with the firefighters in my department.”
George Corona
firefighter
“These precious stories of September 11 are sacred depictions of the great soul of people, of our humanity. The power of telling these kind of testimonies include us all, by calling us to bear witness and create a bond of compassion and understanding, while furthering the realization of one's universal responsibility to awaken. Stories such as these reveal the miracle of love which births mercy from the inner wounds and triumphs in acts of blessings unto others and oneself.
Bonnie Mansdorf
founder, The Foundation for a Healing Among Nations
“After the world shattered on September 11, our country desperately needed to talk about what happened and how they felt about what happened.
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
allows us to do that. It helps us share our pain and find our way through a dark forest to the light again.”
Jim Warda
speaker, columnist and author,
Where Are We Going So Fast?
“The stories in this remarkable book prove that the people of this great nation hold the answers to its healing in their own hearts and hands.”
LeAnn Thieman
coauthor,
Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul
“
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America: Stories to Heal the Heart of Our Nation
is an inspiring collection of stories that symbolize the power of diversity in America and our collective will to heal.”
Ron Nielsen
airline captain, speaker and trainer
“
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
is a collection of vivid snapshots. They remind us what it means to be a hero; of the strength of America's democracy, and that our spirit cannot be destroyed nor our resolve defeated. This compelling book speaks to the kindness of strangers, the courage of ordinary people and what it truly means to be a member of the human family.”
Lois Capps
U.S. Rep. (D-CA)
“
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
allowed me to reflect on the heroic and extraordinary commitment of people whose lives exemplified love for their fellow man. The truths in this book will inspire and comfort you, and also shed light on the lives of people we lost, whose ultimate sacrifice will live in our hearts forever.”
Cam Sanchez
chief of police, Santa Barbara, California
“The events of September 11 left a deep wound in the heart of our country.
Chicken Soup for the Soul of America
is a wonderful balm of love and hope that will help ease the pain and help our hearts to heal.”
Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.
television personality and author,
Real Moments
CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE SOUL
®
OF AMERICA
Stories to Heal the Heart
of Our Nation
Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Matthew E. Adams
Backlist, LLC, a unit of
Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
Cos Cob, CT
Contents
A Time of Gifts
Stephen Jay Gould
They Took a Vote
Bill Holicky
Let Us Be United
Kimi Beaven
Do Unto Others
Judith Simon Prager
A Hero for Our Time
Judith Simon Prager
A Firefighter's Account of the World Trade Center
Dennis Smith
Two Heroes for the Price of One
Marsha Arons
FYI
Randy Kennedy
What Can Be Said?
Mike Daisey
Twin Saving at the Twin Towers
Robin Gaby Fisher
More Than Chocolate
Terri Crisp as told to Carol Kline
E-Mails from Manhattan
Meredith Englander
Prayer Flags
Marc Farre
New York Cabbies
Marsha Arons
Anxiously Awaiting
Rosemarie Kwolek
A Day in D.C.
Maria Miller Gordon
Last Call
Dave Timmons
The Vigil
Jane Gross
A Picture and a Friendship
Jim Dwyer
Memento
Mary Sue Mooney
The Only Thing We Could Think Of
Elizabeth M. Danehy
Playing for the Fighting 69th
William Harvey
Reflections from the Pit
Gordon MacDonald
Dear Mr. Cox
Michael D'Antonio
Beep if You Love America
Harriet May Savitz
The Face of America
Susan Sloate
How the Children Help
Ann Marguerite Swank
Answering His Country's Call
Karen A. Thomas
His Dream Came True
Linda Robertson
The Unity of Strangers
Lynn Barker
The Cops from Madison, Alabama
Steven M. Gorelick, Ph.D.
Given the Choice
Captain Aaron Espy
Taking Control
Matthew E. Adams
Operation Teddy Bear
Tina Warren
No Words
Marsha Arons
Send Beauty
Teri Goggin
The Crumpled Blue Ribbon
Helice Bridges
BOWS Across America
Lisa Duncan
A Fishing Village Opens Its Heart to Surprise Guests
Michael Ko
Smallest Gestures
Deanna Cogdon
Dear Dad
Megan M. Hallinan, ENS
Four Simple Words
Arthur Bowler
Hope from Abroad
Bob Welch
Did You See Me?
Shelley Divnich Haggert
The American Flag
Ellie Braun-Haley
An Ode to America
Cornel Nistorescu
Tribute to the United States
Gordon Sinclair
The Aftermath
Michele Wallace Campanelli
I Am the Flag of the United States of America
Howard Schnauber
Just Ask Permission
Tom Adkins
Bring Us a Flag
Jon Sternoff
Of Thee We Sing
Jennifer Oliver
I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag . . . from the Bottom of My Heart
Jeannie S. Williams
I Am an American
Danielle M. Giordano
One
Cheryl Sawyer, Ed.D.
Chance Encounter
Marsha Arons
The Ominous Sound: Racist Assumptions
Bob Levey
Long-Distance Call
Marsha Arons
Our American Family
Ferida Wolff
Vintage Voices
Carol McAdoo Rehme
Time to Pray
Kathy Ide
Putting Things into Perspective
Charles Memminger
What I've Learned
Victoria Walker
Can't We Call Game?
Molly Lynn Watt
Reflections from a New Father
David Skidmore
The Mustard Seed
Anne Carter
Ground Zero
Patricia Lorenz
Make It Green
Roger Ebert
Celebrate Life
Caroline Broida Trapp
What Is It?
Julie Jordon Scott
Something Special
Pam Bumpus
Why Are You Waiting?
Christina M. Abt
Standing in Solidarity
Shirley Boyer
Neighbors Knowing Neighbors
Harriet May Savitz
Is This Normal?
Max Lucado
Act Two
Steve Goodier
We Shall Go Forward
Winston Churchill
Although the events of September 11, 2001, were stunning, shocking and horrifying, they also brought out the best in us as a nation and as a people. As the days passed, the stories began to emergeâcountless stories of heroism, selfless service, renewed patriotism and deepened faith.
A nation that was only months before divided over a deeply contested election came together around a single purpose and a single cause. Americans of every age, race, religion and location stepped forward in some way to offer their physical labor as well as their goods and services at Ground Zero in New York City and Washington, D.C., as well as their money to scores of charities that sprung into immediate action. Record numbers donated their blood to the Red Cross. Celebrities and noncelebrities alike gave their time and talents to the numerous benefit concerts that were performed around the country. Communities around the country and the world sent cards, posters, flowers and teddy bears to the surviving police officers, firefighters, soldiers and civilians, and gave their love and emotional support to anyone who needed it.
Rescue workers labored past the point of exhaustion in a desperate attempt to save those trapped beneath the rubble. People drove across the country to deliver needed telephone equipment and stayed for weeksâworking for freeâto help make it operational. Volunteers cooked food, delivered water, manned supply depots, gave massages and offered counseling. Children sold everything from lemonade to their own toys to raise money for the victims' families. Radio stations organized thousands of people into large human flags that were photographed and sent to the exhausted firefighters in New York. People dug out old flags and displayed them proudly in a fervor of impassioned patriotism and as a show of support for the members of our armed forces. Indeed, some people went as far as painting their whole houses red, white and blue. Thousands of cards and posters were produced by the schoolchildren of America and sent to the victims' families. Hundreds of new songs were written and performed on Larry King Live and on NPR Radio. Hundreds of thousands of e-mails were sent and forwarded around the country and around the world as people attempted to share their experiences and to comfort their friends and family members. And candlelight vigils were held in every neighborhood and town square across our great land.