Stair parts

By James E. Patterson

After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, author and TV personality Hugh Downs edited My World: What My Country Means to Me by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life.

Downs, who died in 2020 at age 99, explained the book’s purpose in his introduction.

“People might wish both to express and to hear from others how they feel about the nation in light of the jarring events of Sept. 11, 2001.”

Downs received a variety of responses from celebrities, politicians, athletes, and religious figures. Some replies were “insightful.” Some were “philosophic.” Some expressed “deep personal outrage.”

All of them, Downs wrote, had “a newborn or reawakened feeling about the country we live in.”

Many of the contributors, including poet Maya Angelou, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, journalist Helen Thomas, and TV personality Art Linkletter, are now deceased. Each made memorable contributions to the book.

“Let us vow that Sept. 11 will only strengthen the bonds of solidarity between all of America’s races, religions, and cultures,” wrote King. Linkletter, a professional lecturer in later life, wrote, “When I talk about our freedoms, our opportunities, and the wide horizons of life in the U.S.A., the [audience] response is like touching an electric switch.” Angelou wrote about the courage of the first responders at the World Trade Center, who “gave us the handhold we needed to pull ourselves up.” 9/11 firefighters flag memorial. Grammy Award-winning singer Jose Feliciano wrote that America is “a beacon of freedom and opportunity.” He added, “This title, however, seems not to be possible without criticism — even, at times, conflict.” These words from 20 years ago are a valuable lesson for today. Feliciano ended with another valuable lesson: “We must band together in solidarity, for as a nation, there has never been an equal, and as a people, there will never be a dilemma that we cannot overcome.”

9/11 memorial wall.

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www.50plusLIFEPA.com Support Groups, programs planned for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

Safe Communities, a Lancaster organization dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse and supporting adult survivors, has a variety of programs to offer survivors and the community this fall.

A Men’s Group for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse will run four virtual sessions on Zoom for education and connection, Wednesdays, Sept. 8, 15, 22, and 29, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Survivor Voices, an interview with Cathy Collyer, author of Staying in the Room, provides trauma survivors with tools to face any medical or dental appointment and educates therapists and healthcare providers. It will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 6:30-8 p.m. Journey with Tamar: A Retreat for Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, a day of reflection, connection, and education, will take place in the Manheim area Saturday, Oct. 9, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Circle of Hope, for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, will run four virtual sessions on Zoom, Tuesdays, Oct. 19 – Nov. 9, from 6:30-8 pm.

All programs are free of charge and require registration at safecommunitiesPA.org or at (717) 560-9989.