September 11, 2001 was the saddest and darkest day in the history of the United States of America. As millions of people around the world watched their televisions in stunned disbelief, the unthinkable and the unimaginable suddenly became a nightmarish reality. In a few tragic and terrifying hours, thousands of people were injured or killed in the single-most devastating terrorist attack in the history of mankind. This entire book is a tribute to the memory of all of those innocent men, women, and children who lost their lives on that awful dayas well as a tribute to the legacy of America itself and the many people throughout history who have contributed to the strong foundation of hope, liberty, freedom, and justice upon which the United States is built. This is a collection of true Treasures From The Heartdedicated to the unsuspecting civilian casualties of a war that America didnt expectin a world that changed forever one terrible September Day.

From the moment America declared its independence more than two centuries ago, citizens of this great country have lived and prospered under Freedoms reign. America has always been and will forever be a land of opportunity. From around the world, immigrants came to the shores of the United States, carrying with them only their hopes and dreams of a better lifewith the belief that, in America, no dream was too big to realize if only given the chance to come true. Today those great principles still hold true for every citizen of this great nationyoung or old, black or white, rich or poor, regardless of race or nationality. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness these are the foundations of freedom upon which our great nation stands, and they are a worthy cause for celebration and commitment each and every day. America is known the world over as the champion of freedom and justice. Throughout our proud history, we have been a nation that stands together as one to ensure that the light of freedom continues to shine brightly not just for ourselves but for all of mankind. The history of the United States is not simply a list of dates and names from our distant past. It is an ongoing adventure, far more exciting than any novel ever written. It is the story of brave men and women who built a great nation from a wilderness. It is the story of bloody battles and dangerous journeys and amazing inventions. It is the story of great achievements in art, literature, and music. It is baseball, and hot dogs, and Fourth of July picnics. It is majestic mountains, rolling plains, small towns, and fast-faced cities. It is the factory worker, the farmer, the truck driver, and the corporate executive. It is the story of great triumphs such as landing the first man on the moon. It is also the story of terrible tragedies like the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986and the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia 17 years later. It is also the story of dreams and aspirations, of which many have come true and many are yet to be realized.

From George Washington to George W. Bushfrom Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther Kingmany great Americans have dreamed a great dream and saw a vision for a land of limitless opportunity where dreams really can come true. Throughout this book, you will find historic quotes from these famous Americans and many others whose timeless words of hope and inspiration reflect a story of courage, a story of adventure, a story of sacrificethe story of the United States of America.

THE DAY THE EAGLE CRIED

Terror descended from the New York Skies on that dark September day
As Americas spirit was overshadowed by ominous clouds of gray.
The heart of a nation wept and mourned as innocent people died;
Tears stained the stars and stripes on the day the eagle cried.

For a moment the world stood still, frozen in time and gripped by fear
As terrorists from a foreign land attacked all that America holds dear.
Liberty and Freedom became targets of war fueled by hate and lies,
The United States was struck a fatal blow echoed by the Eagles cries.

Americas heart sank into grief as the world watched the towers fall,
And millions of people raced to help in response to humanitys call.
A Tragedy impossible to comprehend no matter how hard we tried;
Sadness flowed into rivers of rage on the day the eagle cried.

Libertys flame flickered in the darkness of the New York skies,
As the attack upon America ended thousands of precious lives.
Our nation survived the terror and grief that hurt so deep inside,
But we will never forget the tears that fell on the day the eagle cried.

American Dreams

Across the miles and across the years,
Through the valleys and beyond the fears,
America has faced many highs and lows,
Befriended by allies and threatened by foes.

A land of diversity in culture and race,
America put a name to Libertys face.
A beacon of hope in a world of despair,
A land of opportunity and people that care.

Dreams can come true in this great land,
Where Freedom offers an encouraging hand.
Nothing is impossible as long as you believe;
In America, no dream is too big to achieve.


If you have faith in the power of dreams,
Nothing is ever as tough as it seems.
Hang on tight even when all seems lost,
Youll find it was worth it to pay the cost.

A light shining bright for all to see,
For all those lost and drifting at sea,
Hope springs eternal on golden beams,
Keeping alive the spirit of American Dreams.