Today, on September 13th, as I write this... is not the time to be discussing wrestling or issues related to it. Instead of heels and babyfaces, bumps and buyrates, it is instead a time to deal with the most tragic moment in United States history.

Most, if not all, Americans are in a state of profound shock over the events of September 11, 2001; even if they do not have a family member, co-worker, friend or loved one that was at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon.

Some of the names that you read about regularly on these pages do have someone affected. Many more have loved ones who escaped through the grace of God, and the efforts of the heroic emergency workers of the City of New York.

A large number of the performers, office staff and others of the World Wrestling Federation have ties to New York City...all of whom were apparently and fortunately spared loss of life.

Even so, they and all of us have experienced a deep wound to our hearts.

The only comparison that one can make to September 11, 2001, is to events such as Pearl Harbor, something I know of only through the fact that my father named me after a cousin of his...who is still buried with the USS Arizona, Robert Thomas Magee.

My generation, and those born after it, has not actually experienced wartime or a moment reminescent of it on a national scale until 8:50 am EDT, September 11, 2001. While it is true that we experienced the tragedy of Vietnam and Desert Storm; it is a fact that the United States itself has not experienced an attack on its soil since December 7, 1941.

The United Stated government will do what it must to locate those responsible for this attack on our nation and on all civilized nations.

The only thing we can do as a nation is to pray for those who have died and their families.

And we can help...we must help.

If you are among those who need to find a family member affected by the disaster, American Red Cross chapters are available to help find information regarding family members affected by the disaster.

Other numbers available for those seeking family members:

American Airlines 1-800-245-0999
United Airlines 1-800-932-8555
Navy/Marines 1-877-663-6772
US Air Force 1-800-253-9276
US Army (Military District of Washington) 1-800-477-9571
DoD Compassion Center/non-uniformed Pentagon employees: 1-800-833-6622

For readers who are medical professionals and wish to support the efforts in New York, you may contact the following sources:

Doctors may call (212) 604-3850
Nurses may call (212) 604-8474
EMT and nurses aides may call 800-628-0193
Search and Rescue Professionals may visit www.nasar.org
All Medical Professionals may call (800) 801-8092.

As has been said in many places, blood donations will be needed for the thousands injured in the World Trade Center attack and collapse. They will be needed for some time to come.

To give blood, call 1-800 GIVE LIFE or contact your local hospital/ health care provider. You can also find the telephone number and location of your local Red Cross chapter by going to this URL. Many telephone lines are busy, so be patient and keep trying.

You can financially support relief efforts by making a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish-speaking). You can also go to Amazon.com to make a direct and secure donation via Amazon.com.

If any of you are MCSE/CNE Certified, the Red Cross needs volunteers to set up communcations centers. The collapse of the trade center also took out many of the fiber optic lines in the city, and they need to set up a network to coordinate the search and rescue effort.

You can email leoj@arcgny.org if you have the proper qualifications and you will be contacted.

There is one thing more that we can all do.

As I alluded to in my last column, we need to be thankful for every day we have, and for the people that are special to us.

September 11, 2001 has shown us that all these things can be taken away in an instant....in a single instant...in the most profound manner possible in our lifetimes.

Until next time...

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(If you have comments or questions, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com)