SEVEN YEARS AGO TODAY, THE WORLD FOREVER CHANGED

It’s hard to believe that seven years ago this very minute, the world was irrevocably changed. We all remember exactly where we were when we learned that America had been attacked and thousands of our brothers and sisters had perished — the moment “the world stopped turning that September day.”

There was a lot of raw emotion on September 11, 2001. It was different for everyone, yet somehow the same. But it was, and still is, difficult to express in words what that day was like.

For me, as an American and a die hard St. Louis Cardinals fan, it was an unlikely figure who accurately captured that emotion and offered healing to a heartbroken America.

Only six days after the horrific terrorist attacks, Cardinals’ Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck — himself dying of Parkinson’s disease — stepped onto the field at Busch Stadium in front of thousands of silent fans waving American flags, welcoming the distraction brought by the return of sports, and delivered a powerful, poignant, patriotic poem that I will never forget.

“Since this nation was founded … under God
More than 200 years ago
We have been the bastion of freedom
The light that keeps the free world aglow
We do not covet the possessions of others
We are blessed with the bounty we share.

We have rushed to help other nations
… anything … anytime … anywhere.

War is just not our nature
We won’t start … but we will end the fight
If we are involved we shall be resolved
To protect what we know is right.

We have been challenged by a cowardly foe
Who strikes and then hides from our view.

With one voice we say, “There is no choice today,
There is only one thing to do.

Everyone is saying — the same thing — and praying
That we end these senseless moments we are living.

As our fathers did before … we shall win this unwanted war
And our children … will enjoy the future … we’ll be giving.”

His voice cracks as he utters the final words of the poem. His eyes are watery. So are the eyes of everyone in the stadium. Tears are shed. Then, following a poignant “21-gun” salute sprinkled with exploding fireworks above the stadium, the game begins with players wearing U.S. flags on their jerseys, helmets and caps.

Amen, Jack Buck. Amen. We will never forget.