I know many may be down today but remember to stay positive and keep smiling.  

as regretful as they may be, we see the purity and the wholesomeness of the human spirit in action.  Ultimately, our resilience and our steadfast drive to support each other embodies everything that makes our nation great.

+1  

We do remember. I hope we will always remember. We are stronger together.

...waking up and logging into AOL to see a photo of the towers smoking and on fire and initially thought 'I wonder what movie they're promoting.'  

hank you for your thoughts.  We will never forget December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor,
And we will never forget September 11, 2001.  I have been watching the news on that terrible day.   So many emotions welled up within me. Anger, and then a real sense of sadness over the terrible loss of innocent civilian lives who's only act was go to work.  As I watched and listened to the mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers etc who lost loved ones that day I heard one mother say we could look at this now as a day of strength.  The American people are good strong people.  They rebuilt the towers even higher than it was. An indication that we will never be defeated by a foreign enemy.  So, as I listen and watch these stories my sadness remains. At the same time however, a feeling of increased courage, strength and love of country and all Americans has infiltrated my sadness.  We owe it to them to get with it and defeat the enemy quickly.  "No country has ever benefited from a protracted war."  --SUN YZU The Art of War.  Why we continue to prolong war is beyond me

To LasVegan.  That was very well said and I have always believed that.  The only time one fails is when one quits.
We get knocked down, then we get back up and continue again and again and again.
As you said, I believe Americans are family. Like all families we argue from time to time and get over it.
However, no one outside our family will ever be allowed to hurt us. Like all families,when our American family comes under attack that's when we all join together and we become one.  
It's like what Ronald Regan said in the hospital after the assassination attempt.
He jokingly said to his doctor, "Well, I just hope you are all Republicans" To which the doctor replied:  
"Mr. President, we are all Republications today."  
So let's be strong, courageous and unified for United We Stand, Divided We Fall

Before the events of 2001, it always was A Happy Day for me for personal reasons.  I will never allow the dirt bag perpetrators to tarnish the memories I have.  Although Life has been good for me, I will never forget, I will never forgive, I will never pardon, and I will never be asked to rationalize.  The 15 hijackers condemned themselves to an eternity in Hell!

deter our enemies when our enemies know/perceive we have "vigilance, strength, and the will to use it."

Absolutely correct again. The appearance of weakness invites war.  The true objective of war is peace

all of us remember exactly where we were when we found out what truly happened.