As Alaskans and America struggle to comprehend the senseless terrorist attacks that have dazed us all, I'm at a loss for words. Our hearts and prayers are with the thousands of victims and their families.

It will be a long time before any of us will feel that we understand the events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. Our lives have been forever changed by the tragedy of the senseless and brutal deaths of so many.

All of us have been affected by the horrendous events in New York and Washington, D.C. CIRI's shareholders live throughout this great nation and even in other parts of the world. Whether we have lost loved ones or are simply horrified bystanders to the spectacle of the disaster on our television screens, we are all affected. Each of us is touched in some way by this global tragedy.

While the CIRI employees continue on with their work of minding our important business enterprises, still we encourage each person to find a way to deal with his or her grief. I have asked that information be included in this publication, offering people a way to seek assistance in grasping the enormity of this situation. I encourage people to take advantage of any services offered that they may feel they need.

Inside this special newsletter you will find comments made in the Miami Herald by columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. on Sept. 12. Pitts is addressing those responsible for the unspeakable agony they inflicted. I believe the important point is made that whatever differences we have as Americans, we are fully capable of working together.

I end with the first verse of "America the Beautiful," written in 1893 by Katharine Lee Bates, who had just climbed to the summit of the 14,000-foot Pike's Peak. This song speaks to our strength, our resources and the beauty of our land. Most importantly, it points to the single most important factor in our greatness - our ability to work together.

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