Look back perhaps 60 years, most Americans spent their lives within about 20 miles of their birthplace. Since WWII, we've become a mobile society with friends and relatives scattered all over the country. My family alone has members in Alabama, Colorado, Hawaii, North Carolina, Texas, and probably several other states.

One of my coworkers has a sister who works in the Pentagon. She was transferred from the hardest hit section just last week. Many of her friends are among the missing. My next door neighbor worked in the Pentagon until a year ago in the Army section. I have not had a chance to talk to him about it but he may well know some of the victims. Events like yesterday's attacks affect more than just the citizens of NYC and Washington DC. They reach us all either directly or indirectly.