On July 4, 1971, at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in Orlando, Florida, I planted a tree in the Memorial Garden honoring those who had fallen or were missing in Vietnam in the service of our nation. At the time, there were only a few from Central Florida who had died in Vietnam and were buried at this site. That number unfortunately grew rapidly. The tree is now nearly 30 feet tall and its branches provide shade to those visiting the Memorial. There is a plaque at the bottom of the tree which says "The Tree of Remembrance and Hope, planted by U.S. Congressman Louis Frey, Jr., to honor those missing in action in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, July 4, 1971. As the tree is strong, may the families and the missing men gain strength. As the tree renews itself each spring, may their hope also be renewed. As the tree endures, may they also endure."

Little did I know nor could I imagine when I planted the tree what new traumas the country would face on September 11, 2001 and how we would, like the missing men and the MIA families, also have to endure. As I recently sat under the tree, I thought about what America was like and how America has changed. On September 11, 2001, the oceans that protected us for 200 years from terrorism and wars faced by most nations dried up. We were suddenly part of Europe, Africa and Asia. As a people, we all felt naked and vulnerable. We looked into the future and saw only uncertainty and fear. We were told to go on with our lives and act normal, but how could we be normal; what was normal? You get on a plane and wonder about the other passengers. You think of traveling overseas but cancel the vacation because of terrorist threats and state department travel alerts. You go to a mall or an amusement park and the thought of a suicide bomber or biological attack is in the back of your mind. It hasn't happened here, but it could.

Life will not return to the relatively tranquil times we enjoyed before the terrorists struck. But such tranquility has been infrequent in our nation's history. The people in this country are resilient. We are adjusting to this new reality of living under threatening skies. It is not as safe as it once was and it may never be. Our nation did not come peaceful into the world but was born in blood, strife and battle.

Freedom has never been free. Up until 9/11, it has been a select few, primarily the military overseas, who were in harm's way. Many of our young men and women died around the world keeping us free and protecting us from harm at home. Today, we are all on the front lines. There is no place to hide. Unfortunately, there will be more attacks. There will be more suffering and death on United States soil. But the American spirit will not be broken, nor will we be driven from our belief in the rule of law. We are a changed people: tougher, smarter, and able to understand and control our fears. Those who attempt to take away our freedoms will be destroyed. The terrorists have brought our country together united in purpose. They have unleashed the terrible swift sword of American justice. We will meet the challenge of this new era and will continue to live normal, if somewhat different lives. Let’s roll! God bless America!