GROUND ZER0, New York, N.Y.--Feb 14, 2004 -- Valentine's Day is a celebration of love.  Millions of pounds of candy, and bushels of flowers will find their way to loved one's.
         But there some others who should not be forgotten on this day, or any day for that matter.

       They are the 739 women who died on September 11, 2001, as a result of the Terrorist attack.    Each of us needs to remember them in our Valentine wishes, and proffer a Valentine of Vigilance to them as we celebrate this day of love.
          According to the FBI, a total of 3,047 victims died on September 11, 2001 at the hands of Terrorism.   At the World Trade Center, 2,175 males and 648 females perished.   The aftermath of the Pentagon attack left 108 men and 71 women dead.    And, the plane headed toward the White House or Congress that crashed in Pennsylvania, took the lives of twenty men and twenty women.
         This is their Valentine of Vigilance day. 
          I imagined myself visiting the Women of Vigilance, speaking with them about this day of love.   Here is my conversation:
         "Happy Valentine's Day."
         "Thank you!"

          I laid down a big box of candy an armful of flowers.
         "I want you to know the love you have shown to us all over these past 886 days has not gone unnoticed."
         "We know," the Mothers of Vigilance responded.  "We watch and guard the children from the Beast of Terror."
         "Love is eternal," I said.  "It doesn't die with the body.  The spirit of love cannot die."
         "That's why we are here, above Ground Zero, reminding everyone that we are their Sentinels...their Mothers and Fathers of Vigilance."
         The women reached out and held the hands of the men.   There were three men for every woman in the Circle of Vigilance.
         "How do you feel on Valentine's Day?  Are you sad you are not with your loved ones?" I asked.
         "No," the women replied.  "We feel the love.    Every day is Valentine's Day for us, for our children and husbands and loved ones haven't forgotten us.    Each day we receive their love by thoughts and feelings they have for us.  We only wish they would not be sad.   When they cry, our hearts ache."
         "It is difficult to lose a loved one--especially a mother or sister or grandmother."
         "We know.   That's why we watch over their souls, guarding them from unnecessary pain.   We strive to replace hate with love, and to keep joy alive over the despair that often afflicts our loved ones."    

         "In a way," I said, "you are Cupids of Vigilance."
         The women chuckled.    "Yes, we shoot arrows of Vigilance into our loved one's hearts, aimed at the Beast of Terror.   The Beast of Terror sneaks in and tries to turn our children and loved ones into balls of Fear, Intimidation and Complacency.  We won't allow that.    We are Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Grandmothers, Loved Ones of Vigilance.    We do not sleep."
          "Then you are Cupids of Vigilance!"
          "Every day we try our best to instill Courage, Conviction and Right Actions into all our loved ones--as any mother would her children and those she loved.   We try and pave their path with love so that when the Beast leaps out of the bushes and attacks our children or loved ones, they are braced with Shields of Vigilance, able to thwart the Beast's desire to dominate their thoughts, to cripple their resolve."
           "Then candy and roses aren't as important to you as Arrows of Vigilance?"
           "Oh," they responded, "every woman loves candy and flowers.   We appreciate your gifts.  But, the real expression of love is Vigilance.  It is doing the right things that protect the children.    We measure love not by gifts, but by acts.   A mother who embraces her children each and every morning, and stops everything she is doing to listen to them, and becomes their best friend so they don't seek the counsel of someone who 'understands' them better--that's our goal with our Arrows of Vigilance.   The stronger the bond between the child and mother, similarly the stronger the bond between the father and child, the greater the protection the child has from the Beast of Terror."

        "What advice would you give all women on this Valentine's Day?"
          "We would tell them all to become Parents and Loved Ones of Vigilance.  To take the Pledge of Vigilance and vow each day to keep their families and loved one's safe from the Beast of Terror's wrath.    Love is about putting yourself second.   We gave our lives for our children and loved ones.     We still offer them love from beyond life.    When parents give everything they have to protect their children from Fear, Intimidation and Complacency, and strive to teach them Courage, Conviction and Right Actions for the future generations, then they have created true love.    Valentine's Day is about giving love.   And we believe the great gift a mother or father can give their children and all around them, is the same love they give on Valentine's Day.    If every day is Vigilance Day, another way of saying Valentine's Day, the Beast has no place to hide.   He will starve."
            I looked at the Women of Vigilance.  They stood strong and proud in the Circle of Vigilance.    Each held a flower.    Some sampled the candy.
            "Thanks for coming," they said.   "Just remind everyone that Valentine's Day is every day--it's really Vigilance Day."
            "I will," I promised.   
         

Feb. 13 --Friday The 13th--A Bad Day For Terrorism