Seven years ago. When the radio announcer said those words I was surprised... has it really been 7 years?

And now as I sit at exactly 9:11 on September 11th... I think about how unreal it was to see on the television screen our buildings on our soil in flames.

I cried. So many lives. A friend of mine questioned my sorrow. I hadn't lost anyone and countries all over this planet suffer every day the shear horror and terror that men and women would inflict upon each other to make a point or to take some sort of political stand.

Why do we do this to one another? Because we are lost, aimless and in search of something to fill the emptiness.

Oh wandering reader... if your eyes should find this post, know that there are those of us who think of you and pray for you.

Have you ever?

Have you ever made a request to God... days, weeks, months later shook your head to clear your thoughts, looked around and said "I'm in the middle of my answer!"

Thank you Lord for the little blessings, for the little blessings and the eyesight to see you are answering. I never want to miss that you've answered.

Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo

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NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense

No. 932-07 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007
Media Contact: (703) 697-5131/697-5132
Public/Industry(703) 428-0711

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Juan S. Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., died July 22 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

Upon request from my brother, please pray for his family.