Love and Peace and reflections of 9-11

Retired Army Chaplain Leroe shares a poem called “ONE”

By Joanie Allbee

Last Thursday at the Saugus Congregation Ahavas Sholom synagogue (which means Love & Peace), President of the Sisterhood Maureen Appel welcomed Rev. Dr. Robert G. Leroe as the Guest Speaker. Retired Army Chaplain Bob reflected on the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and their horrific aftermath and closed with the reading of a poem by an unknown author.

Chaplain Bob served for 25 years as an Army Chaplain. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Expeditionary Medal and the Legion of Merit. He served in Desert Storm and the Balkan War.

The following is the poem he read:

The poem “ ONE”

As the soot and dirt and ash rained over us,

We became one color.

As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning buildings,

We became one class.

As we lit candles of hope and remembrance,

We became one generation.

As the firefighters and police fought their way into the inferno,

We became one gender.

As we fell to our knees in prayer,

We became one faith.

As we whispered words of encouragement,

We spoke one language.

As we donated blood in lines a mile long,

We became one body.

As we mourned together the terrible loss,

We became one family.

As we cried tears of rage and grief,

We became one soul.

As we shared with pride the sacrifice of heroes,

We became one people.

We are the power of One.

We are united.

We are America.

After the reading, Chaplain Bob ended with a moment of silent reflection; a nice ending.