I want to offer my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to all of our British members and their fellow citizens...on this day of unspeakable savagry.

When the US was struck on 9-11, the British people stood with us shoulder to shoulder. They have been friends in the worst of times--when our other "fair weather" friends scurried off like rats leaving a sinking ship, they stuck by us.

Although I am not particularly sanguine, given our press and our current political climate, I hope that American citizens have the same sense of honour and courage. Let no one say "England deserved this." She did not. I hope we can return the favour and stand by you as well. And I assure you that many of us...most of us...feel the outrage and the pain and are more determined than ever to defeat these animals.

For a nation who suffered the Blitz and who, in the face of destruction and terror far worse that this, never, ever, even contemplated surrendering, know that you have our deepest admiration and our support.

*Don't let the bastards get you down..."

Tight Stitches
DWFII--HCC Member

Well said D.W.!

I think this tragic devistation is going to stir up alot of people again and just like myself, I JUST retired from the NYPD when the 911 hit. Now its starting all over again. Im getting scared because my son is a Chemical weapons specialist in the Army (reserve) and he is going to special training for 18 days leaving Today. Here we go again!!!. This has to stop. We (USA) have to do something to stop this craziness.God bless everyone.

DW

I am replying as a HCC member who was born in London and can vividly remember being swept off my feet by the blast of a V1 pilot-less bomb in 1944. Although I was only five years old when this happened, I can remember the spirit of the people in our country which was so much part of the late 1940’s when I growing up in London.

From a UK viewpoint, the attacks on Thursday were not really a surprise. The question for sometime has been not if, more one of when. I can only speak personally and say the feelings expressed are very much appreciated.

However, can I suggest that we do not forget those killed and injured in Nairobi, Dar-es-Salam, USS Cole, Madrid, as well as those in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, plus the forces on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and the numerous civil victims in those countries.

This is an attack on our way of life. As in the US response to 9/11, the feeling here is to do everything we can to carry on as usual. It just happened, that there was a long-planned celebration in London this weekend for the 60th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Thousands and thousands of people thronged the centre of London, as if nothing unusual had happened on Thursday. We even had the whole Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to the crowds outside.

So, a personal thank you from this particular Brit.

Frank Jones
frank.jones@shoemaking.com

If I may crave your indulgence a little further, a direct quote from the Donald Rumsfeld (US Defence Secretary) might be appropriate.

“If these terrorists thought they could intimidate the people of a great nation, they picked on the wrong people and the wrong nation. For generations, tyrants, fascists and terrorists have sought to carry out their violent designs upon the British people only to founder upon its unrelenting shores.”

It is significant that I have taken the above direct from one of our Sunday papers. It was in large type on a whole page, alongside a picture of a victim walking away with a bandaged head but still carrying his daily newspaper.

Frank Jones
frank.jones@shoemaking.com

On Normandy's Shore

They stormed ashore together that bloody June day

British Americans French and thousands more.

Their object was to destroy a form ofTyranny of blood and gore.

Once again the bugle sounds and young people answer the call.

They are the Grandsons and Grand daughters of those who carried freedom to Normandy's shore.