September 11th, 2001 was a day that changed our country forever. Seeing the images of black smoke rising from the Twin Towers against the clearest of blue skies and the same towers collapsing into a cloud of dust and debris will be forever ingrained in the memories of Americans who lived through it. Even ten years later, watching old news coverage, watching the reading of the names of the victims from Ground Zero (now one of, if not, the most beautiful and fitting memorials to those killed on that dark day), it feels as if the attacks just happened yesterday. It is just as fresh and just as heart wrenching.
Few sports are more patriotic than Nascar. Every week, the race starts out with a prayer, the national anthem and a military flyover. Nascar fans and drivers are very appreciative for the men and women who defend their freedom to come out and enjoy a race on a Sunday afternoon. So when the opportunity came to honor those lost in the 9/11 attacks, Nascar and the race teams jumped at the chance.
Just like every American, many drivers remember where they were that day when the news broke. David Reutimann and Kurt Busch were testing. Denny Hamlin was working underneath a racecar. Nascar was also watching and decided to follow the lead of other major sports and not race in New Hampshire the following weekend (despite the fact that many of the drivers did). when they returned to the track in Dover, the teams were greeted to a sea of red white and blue in the stands. Every fan and every crewman on pit road had a flag, almost every driver had a special paint scheme and everyone there was proud as proud could be to be an American. And it was very fitting that Dale Junior went on to win and parade a big American flag around the track.
This weekend was no different. Several drivers had special paint schemes, including Kyle Busch who's car was void of sponsorship logos and was decked out like Old Glory. Many had also teamed up with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation which helps families of firefighters and builds homes for quadriplegic veterans when they return home from combat. They helped to raise money and awareness for the charity and also pay tribute to the first responders and good Samaritans who gave their lives doing what they did for a living: saving lives.
The prerace ceremonies were also a great tribute to those lost ten years ago. Former NYPD officer Danny Rodriguez performed a stirring rendition of "God Bless America" and the US Army 29th Infantry Division Band out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia performed one of the best renditions of the national anthem ever. (On a side note, Nascar needs a military band to do the anthem every week. They're the only ones that perform it right and with the level of respect that it deserves). If that didn't make you proud to be an American, then you need to find somewhere else to live or check your pulse or something.
Americans are forever indebted to our firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel and military servicemen and women. Without these men and women doing what they do and putting themselves in harms way so we can stay safe, who knows where we would be. They are the true heroes in this world. Not Batman, not Derek Jeter, not Dale Junior or Jeff Gordon. The first responders that risk their lives to save ours are the ones who deserve our thanks and respect. We will never forget what they do for us and we will never forget those lost on 9/11. God bless them and their families and God bless the United States of America.
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