On 9-11, 2001, I was the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Volusia. I remember watching in disbelief as the events of 911 unfolded. I recall feeling more bewildered than afraid. We had a Board meeting scheduled for that evening and decided to cancel because we all just wanted to go home. By the weekend, I was beginning to understand the magnitude of what had happened “in America and to America.” By Monday morning, feelings of fear and sadness and vulnerability had set in. The Chamber had a Washington-Fly-In scheduled for early October and after an email poll of the Board, everyone agreed that we should cancel our flights. Around 9 a.m. I called the Travel Agency to request flight cancellation instructions. Around 10:30 a.m. my office assistant came back to my office to tell me that Congressman John Mica was on the phone wanting to talk to me. I said “you mean his office”. She said “No, it’s HIM.” I could not believe that this Congressman who was leading the charge to get Wall-Street open and planes flying again could possibly , on this morning, be calling ME, a west Volusia Chamber Chief. As I answered the phone, the voice on the other end took my breath away. It was “HIM”, Congressman John Mica. I said “Good Morning Sir, you must be very busy today.” and the conversation went something like this. “Yes Linda I am busy . I’m trying to get the planes flying again and I hear you canceled your flights to Washington. Listen to me ! You are a community leader and if all the community leaders across America are too afraid to fly or come to Washington, THEY won. Do you hear me? The Terrorists won! This is what they wanted to happen. Now I want YOU to get on the phone and call the travel agency and confirm your flight plans. Call your Board and tell them to get on that plane and get up here. Can you do that? Your job is to lead and to inspire courage in your community and if any of your board says no, here’s my cell phone number .You call me and let me know who I need to call. Do you understand what you need to do and what’s at stake here? Tell me you won’t let our community become immobilized by fear.” By now, tears were streaming down my face. And choking back the tears, I replied,” Yes Sir, I understand. We’ll fly, We’ll be there. I promise I’ll get them all there. And Congressman Mica,” Thank You.” “You’re Welcome Linda.” and the phone was quiet. I couldn’t imagine how he knew I had tried to cancel the flight or why he took the time on that morning, himself, to call ME. In the years since, I’ve come to understand why. I took a dozen people along with people from other Chambers to the Capitol as planned in early October. We were one of the 1st groups to be allowed back into the Capitol. Met by armed guards surrounding the Capitol and all around us, I knew that America had changed. It was the first time I truly understood the meaning of freedom.. And suddenly in the warm Washington sunshine in front of the Capitol surrounded by armed guards, I realized how fragile Freedom is. Congressman Mica was fierce that day as heavily armed security guards tried to keep us out of various places in the Capitol. I understood that he was fighting with all he had to keep America free as he escorted us through the Capitol. I learned that day that for America to really be free, we must understand and fiercely love, cherish and protect those things that make us free and not just on the days that freedom is easy. I learned that we should never cower down and assume the role of a victim but instead to honor those that lost their life on 911 by demonstrating our courage and our strength and our love of Freedom, even in the face of unspeakable tragedy. I learned that courage and action make us free and that restriction, fear and inaction make us “less free.” I also learned that” Real Leaders” can and will in the worst of times empower and inspire individuals, communities and America. I am saddened and resentful of many of the restrictions and regulations that have been enacted since 9-11. I think many of those regulations have been unnecessary and have made America neither safer or stronger or more free. I believe those overreaching regulations have, like a thief in the night, robbed us of our joy and our individual wills to be courageous and resilient in the face of adversity. I hold the “Phone Call” in my heart as one of my greatest “Lessons in American Freedom” It taught me how each of us can make a difference when we choose action instead of fear. I now know that Congressman Mica knew that too the day he called. I hope this story will again inspire us to be bold and courageous as it inspired me and my Chamber Board of Directors on that day. Our Chamber closed in 2009. The only Visitors Center in West Volusia is now operated with tax dollars. 10 years later, I still choke up when I sing the last verse of the Star Spangled Banner “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” and I still remember “Let’s Roll” .

- Linda White