In wake of national disaster, the heartland is fine

"How is the heartland doing?" a friend e-mailed after the disaster of Sept. 11.

"The heartland is fine," I e-mailed back.

On the day of the atrocities in Washington, New York and Pennsyl-vania, I had been scheduled to give a humorous speech to 700 volunteers who had helped with the Ozark Empire Fair. The board met and decided that no terrorists were going to shoot down their event. They wouldn't play into the hands of these beasts.

The E-Plex was decorated in a 60s style, the food was great and although the room was understandably "down" there also was a feeling of resolve and hope in the air. Marla Calico led us in a moment of silence and then sang "The Star Spangled Banner" a capella with the rest of the group joining in.

I have heard "The Star Spangled Banner" many times in my life, but on the night of our national tragedy, the words spoke clear and true as never before. I heard the phrase "our flag was still there" echoing over and over

The heartland is fine. Shaken, yes, but not broken.

My humorous speech on "groovin' at the fair" was no longer appropriate, and so I changed my speech toward volunteerism. Five hundred volunteers ranging from children to elderly looked up at me with rapt faces. They needed something from me. What they didn't know was that they already had it. They had strength within them.

I told them that they were part of a chain of volunteers that stretched across this great country. It was the volunteer who became a Minuteman. Volunteers protected the Ozarks during the ravages of the Civil War. Volunteers stepped up when needed in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam. They were already on the front lines in D.C., New York and Pennsyl-vania. I told them that they were part of a bigger picture.

As I looked out at the group, I felt proud to be a resident of the Ozarks. I felt a thrill of joy knowing that I was looking at the kind of people that make our country great.

The heartland is fine.

I went to three churches that first Friday, Saturday and Sunday after the attack. I needed it. At the Salvation Army, I was touched to see people kneeling at the altar and at their pews. I heard heartfelt prayers and no anger. Most of all, I thought of all the Salvation Army workers and volunteers on the front lines. We learned that the Salvation Army was also delivering food to all the stranded travelers all over the United States.

My husband is O'Donnell and so, on Saturday, we went to Mass. Again, the volunteers sang in the choir and helped with the service. We sang "God Bless America," and I thought of all the people singing the song all over the country. This time, though, it wasn't just a song. It was a prayer.

On Sunday, I attended Ridgecrest Baptist where volunteers greeted me and were in evidence throughout the service. There was no anger or hatred. All we heard was peace, love and prayer. Again, "God Bless America" rang out.

What a country this is that I can attend three different services!

The heartland is fine.

On Saturday night, the 22nd, my husband and I walked with his Kiwanis group for the "Light the Night" event to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It seemed more crowded than last year. Again, the American flag was everywhere, and we all joined in the patriotic songs with a fervor never felt before.

We were all given red and white lighted balloons, representing survivors and those who have passed on. This year our walk was through the zoo. In the twilight, I thought of the blue of the sky and the red and white of the balloons. It felt as though I was seeing a visual representation of what America is all about. We care. We want to help.

As darkness approached and we walked slowly through the zoo, the scene was beautiful. The lighted balloons looked like lanterns in a Japanese print, and we wound around and around.

When we see the flags on lapels, cars and poles, we know that we are under a comforting blanket. The weaving of this blanket began in 1776. Every once in while there is a snag or a tear, but the flag is still whole.

The volunteers of America are stepping up once again. Springfield is with you, New York, Washington and Penn-sylvania!

The heartland is fine.

(Sinara Stull O'Donnell is a writer and professional speaker in the career arena through her company Sinara Speaks.)