"My daddy couldn't be here,because he lives so far away.Nevertheless,I know he wishes he could be,since this is such a special day.And though you cannot meet him,I want you to know all about my daddy and how much he loves me so.He loved to tell me stories and taught me to fly a kite.We used to share fudge sundaes and ice cream in a cone.Though you cannot see him,I'm not standing her alone because my daddy's always with me,even though we are apart,I know because he toled me,he'll forever be in my heart."

With that,her little hand reached up and lay across her chest,feeling her own heartbeat,beneath her favourite dress.From somewhere in the crowd of dads,her mother stood in tears,proudly watching her daughter who was wise beyond her years for she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.

She finished with a voice so soft but its message was clear and loud."I love my daddy very much,he's my shining star.And if he could,he'd be here,but heaven's just too far away.You saee he was a firefighter and died just this past year when airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear.Sometimes when I close my eyes,it's like he never went away."Then she closed her eyes,and saw him there that day.To her mother's amazement,she witnessed with surprise.A room full of daddies and children all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,who knows what they felt inside.Perhpas for merely a second they saw him at her side."I know you're with me Daddy,"to the silence she called out.

Not one in that room could explain it,for each of their eyes had been closed.But there on the desk beside her,was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.