As the ten year anniversary of 9/11 approaches, it’s painful to remember the terrible loss of that day.  I highly recommend this article titled “Sandler O’Neills Journey from Ground Zero” from Fortune Magazine.  Their resilience in rebuilding their firm after losing almost 40% of their people in the attacks is very inspiring.

Jimmy Dunne, one of the three founding partners, was playing in a golf tournament on the morning of September 11, 2001.  A tournament official told him that he needed to call his office.  From the linked article:

Jimmy was irritated (also not unusual). Three men ran Sandler O’Neill in those days: Herman Sandler, the senior managing principal; Chris Quackenbush, head of investment banking; and Jimmy, the tough guy in the triumvirate, who managed (delegated) things day to day. If this was a business issue, he was pretty sure the other two could handle it. “Are my kids okay?” Jimmy asked. “Is my wife okay?” He took two more shots. The guy followed him down the fairway. “A plane hit the World Trade Center,” the guy finally said. “Did it break a window?” Jimmy asked.

Years later Jimmy would recall how he had left work early the afternoon before — Sandler, his mentor, and Quackenbush, his best friend, nearly pushing him out the door, saying, “Go. Go. Get a good night’s sleep.” He remembers arriving in Bedford at dinnertime, driving around town searching for a place to eat. “A very lonely night,” he says now. “I didn’t have any friends. I was there on a mission, but it was kind of silly. The next morning the mission changed dramatically.”

Jimmy called the office from the bag room. No answer. He called home and reached his wife, but she was unable to speak. She handed the phone to a friend, who told Jimmy, “You have to come to terms with the fact that most of the people in your firm are dead.” Still wearing his golf clothes, he rushed back to Manhattan. He did not yet know who was dead and who was alive. He could not be sure who among the living would be willing and able to return to work. He had no idea what remained of the firm, whether there would be enough pieces left to start over — or to sell, if that’s what it came to. He could not have imagined the ways in which volunteers, clients, even competitors would rush to Sandler’s aid. Nor did he have a clue — never having been tested before, not like this — what he was capable of.

The following are three quotations from Thomas Jefferson that are relevant for today:

1.  “…I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale.”

2.  “{I}f we can but prevent the government from wasting the labours of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.”

3.  “We hold these truths to be self evident:  that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Happy Fourth of July to all of our readers.

It’s difficult to even comment when there has been a natural disaster on this scale. Rescuers are just now getting to some of the hardest hit areas in northeast Japan, and the fate of the three damaged nuclear reactors is uncertain at this point. I can say with certainty that our armed forces are usually the first to arrive when help is needed.  From the WSJ article:

Marines stationed on Okinawa dispatched a high-speed military ferry to Japan Monday morning to assist in the operations, according to the U.S. military. The fast logistics craft, based on a commercial passenger ferry, is to deliver supplies, communications equipment, personnel and equipment for a refueling base.

U.S. Marines continued reconnaissance operations for the planned land-based supply and refueling base, to be set up west of Sendai. “They’re going to be building it by today, tomorrow or sometime in the next 48 hours,” said Sgt. Maj. Steve Valley, a military spokesman. “So at least then we’ll have a supply point close to the major damage.”

A friend of mine’s husband is stationed at Misawa AFB in northeastern Japan, and she described the earthquake as terrifying.  They were very fortunate that the tsunami did not affect the area, and Misawa is now the center for some US led search and rescue efforts.

The Crossvault blog is not meant to be a political blog.  Nevertheless, I had to post this quote from George W. Bush.  This is what he said in 2003 in a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy.

“Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe – because  in the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty.  As long as the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation, resentment and violence ready for export”.

The current administration tragically abandoned this policy for a more accommodative approach to existing governments.  Choosing to see the leaders and their states rather than the people.

For his position on bringing Democracy to the Middle East, I think we can now say of  President Bush,  how smart, how right, and how prescient.

With our armed forces serving in two wars, I think that it is important to remember our veterans.  Richard Winters, the commanding officer on whom both the book and mini-series “Band of Brothers” was based, died recently at the age of 92. From the NYT article:

Rising from lieutenant to major, Mr. Winters was commander of Company E, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, from D-Day to V-E Day. Dropped behind enemy lines hours before Allied forces landed on Utah Beach at dawn on June 6, 1944, the unit went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, through German towns and villages and ended the war by joining in the capture of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest at Berchtesgaden, Germany, near the Austrian border.

Lieutenant Winters became the unit’s commanding officer on D-Day, hours after his superior officer was killed. That day he led 13 of his men in taking out a battery of German gunners that was decimating Allied troops on Utah Beach.

“He was the first one out there, yelling, ‘Follow me!’ ” one of his staff sergeants, William Guarnere, now 88, said Monday. “We knocked out a battery of four guns, 150 millimeters, that was firing on the kids coming on the shore. He got shot in the leg and still kept going.”

This past weekend I was reminded numerous times why San Antonio is such a great place to live. 

First there was the Rock n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon.  From the time the Expo opened on Friday, until crossing the finish line on Sunday, the logistics went smoothly, and everyone involved was friendly and helpful.  And, the best part for the economy of San Antonio, is that 2/3 of the runners, or roughly 20,000 people come from out of town.

Next there was the film fundraiser I was involved with.  This event took place at the Santikos Bijou Theatre.  Not only was the theatre clean and attractive, but the staff was helpful, welcoming and accommodating.

Finally, the DoubleTree Hotel at the airport provided the much needed hospitality to our visiting guest.  The guest was 76 years old, and while very spry, still required an extra bit of attention, which she received at the front desk, the restaurant and at check out.

It is no wonder to me why, when dropping our guest at the airport, she said if she wasn’t 76, she would be moving to San Antonio.  Nice people, good weather, great facilities and activities, are good for the residents, and great for our economy.

I was listening to CNBC yesterday morning when reporter Phil LeBeau interviewed Ford CEO Alan Mulally.  Readers may recall that Ford, under Mr. Mulally’s leadership, did not take Government money.  They did not need it.

Mr. Mulally is a classic American CEO, and the kind that is all too often forgotten or ignored by the media.  He lives within three miles of his office, he arrives there at 5:15am,  and works twelve hours a day.

 However, what really impressed me during the interview, was Mr. Mulally’s positive attitude, and his overwhelming enthusiasm for his company and its products. 

I have always believed that whether you are running a company, or a country, the prevailing attitude and success of the entity comes from the top.  It is clear why Ford has regained market share, and come out of the financial crisis/recession on top.

This morning as I was running with my favorite running friends, the discussion turned to a local “theme park” called Morgan’s Wonderland, right here in San Antonio.

Morgan’s Wonderland is the largest  park in the world for adults and children with special needs.  In addition, our Wounded Warriors can enjoy the park with their families, even if they are in a wheel chair.  Everything is accessible.

The is no fee for any child or adult with special needs, no questions asked,  and the fee for all family members is only $5. 

This park was made possible by Gordon Hartman and the Gordon Hartman Family Foundation.  Mr. Hartman is a successful San Antonio real estate developer, and home builder.    How great is Capitalism.

This past Sunday was Easter.  As part of a Jewish Federation program here in San Antonio, called SA Giveback, my sons and I served Easter dinner to the wounded soldiers at Brooke Army Medical Center.

As always it was an inspirational experience.  The soldiers and their families are upbeat, friendly and courteous, in spite of their wounds and their personal suffering.  They are appreciative of our small effort, and gracious in their hospitality.

How fortunate we are to have these exceptional men and women protecting our country and our freedom.  God Bless our soldiers.

I am watching the Oscars tonight, and enjoying them more than I can remember in a long time.  I haven’t seen all of the films yet, but am still interested and intrigued.  I am also impressed by the range of talent, and new ideas, foreign and domestic.

This past fall I found myself watching NFL football with an interest and intensity that I have not felt since Roger Staubach was quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.

I find myself wondering if in tough times, financial or otherwise, we appreciate that which takes us away from reality, if only for a few minutes.  Whatever the reason, how fortunate we are to live in America with great football and great films!!!