Reading about September 11th,  one can’t help but remember just how difficult that time was.  Thousands died and millions suffered.  But while it was one of our nation’s darkest hours, out of this great tragedy emerged the great goodness of the American people.  In the days that followed, millions of families gathered around  their kitchen tables to talk and to pray;  reconnecting and recommitting to all that they held dear.  Millions volunteered both their time and money.  Churches were filled to overflowing and a spirit of faith was reborn in our country that had not been seen in a very long time.  And we became, once again, “One Nation Under God”.  But where is that faith now?

In many schools in our country, they don’t start their day with the Pledge of Allegiance for fear of “offending” someone with the use of the phrase, “One Nation Under God”.  Pornography and strip clubs have somehow become “freedom of speech” issues, and yet Pastors who dare to speak on the moral issues of our time are often threatened with legal action.   Where is the freedom of speech for those who serve the Lord?   Consumed with worry over issues such as the economy, we have sometimes allowed ourselves to forget that it is not the “treasures” of this world we must worry about-but of the next.   

Without a doubt, our country has seen some very tough times.  But what has always brought Americans together, what has given us the courage and strength to face the tough times and the terrible tragedies that sometimes occur, is faith.   Faith in God, faith in each other, and faith in the values and traditions that have so well stood the test of time. For it is these three-Faith, Family and Freedom-that have made us what we have always been:  “The land of the free and home of the brave”.

Family, faith and freedom are the foundation upon which this country has been built and they are the reasons for its enduring success.  It is these core beliefs that have become the very heart of the American spirit.  And it is these beliefs and values, along with the courageous service and sacrifice of so many, that has made America the kind of country that millions all over the world wish to come to, and millions thank God every day to be a part of. Having the courage and taking time to honor God’s place in our country and our country’s history doesn’t take away from the fact that we also care deeply about other important issues such as national security, the economy, education, health care and social security.  Throughout our country's history, we have faced many such challenges, but because our country has been built upon a foundation of faith, family, and freedom; and blessed with people who care far more about the welfare of others than they do for themselves, we have always managed to find solutions to the challenges that we face.  And that's why, if we hope to find solutions to the challenges that we face both today and in the future, we must work together to preserve and protect the values and traditions that have served us so well in the past. As for those who would remove God from our Pledge of Allegiance and from our country and our country’s history.  Although there are a few people who would like to remove God from every facet of our society, the vast majority of Americans do believe in God.  God has always been a part of our country, and our country's history and culture. God is in the Declaration of Independence, The Star Spangled Banner, The Gettysburg Address, and on every single dollar bill. God was there on the day so many gave their lives fighting so that we might be free and He was there the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.   God was there the day our  boys stormed the beaches of Normandy and He was there the day the Twin Towers came down. Without a doubt, our country has seen some very difficult times, and yet we have always been able to find a way to stand together in times of need, as one people, “One Nation Under God”, to meet the challenges that we faced.   And what has always brought Americans together, what has given us the courage and strength to face the tough times and the terrible tragedies that sometimes occur in our world, is Faith.    Faith in God, Faith in Each Other, Faith in the Values and Traditions that have so well stood the test of time.  And that’s exactly why, as Moms, we do feel that the faith and character of Presidential and Congressional candidates matter.  And, in fact, it matters more than any other issue.   For if a man or women wishes to lead this nation, they must first be able to show the American people that they understand and support the American values and traditions that have for so long stood the test of time and that they are as committed as we are to ensuring that America remains what it has always been-"the land of the free and home of the brave".