Artist's Statement:

On September 10, 2001, I opened a week-long art show at the downtown Wells Fargo Bank in my hometown, San Angelo, TX. The show looked so promising because I had worked so hard from the 1990's to mid-2001, putting together original oil paintings, bronzes and prints for a 2001 Fall showing. Along with so many of my ol' hard-working friends, we put together a show that we were all proud of.

On opening day, (Monday, September 10th) women came to me and said they were interested in those high-dollar paintings and bronzes, but they wanted their husbands to see them first. The men had the same idea about their wives. For the first time in over fifteen years, I felt that I was FINALLY going to get back to where I was in the early '80's.

Then... the next morning, September 11th, 2001... mindless, cruel, cowardly, sub-human radical terrorists took so many lives away, along with so many dreams from all of us who survived. I was stunned.

I had gone to the bottom of the "well" after the stock market crash of 1987. I wound up homeless and completely broken in finances and in spirit. I stayed down there until I could begin clawing my way back out and finally, I began to see the top of the "well" by around 1996-97. So I kept clawing even harder. Then that horrible day, 9/11/01 happened. My great art show was deserted. I had visions of being forced to go back to that hellacious place I had been, but I refuse to go back. In all due respect to all sensible men, women and young children... I'll do my gol-dangedest to watch my language whenever I talk about those sorry terrorists [censored] who did that to all of us peace-loving people that day.

September 12th, I began to envision the idea for this painting that President George W. Bush later described in his letter to me "...captured the national spirit after 9/11." When you study the painting, you'll see that these people are not just soldiers, firemen and peace officers, but also common American citizens willing to fight again for our freedom from fear and oppression by a bunch of low-life idiots. Note what's written at the bottom of this page under my name. I will NOT submit to those little scumbag murderers... and neither will any of you... THEY will submit to US!!

By the way, if you are a little slimy terrorist reading this and looking at this painting, give me your physical address and I will gladly come to you and hand-deliver some personally autographed prints just for you and all your little [censored] friends. Also, I'll bring along a fellow Texan, General Tommy Franks and a bunch of his wonderful, likable brave buddies and we'll give you a day that you'll never forget. Tell your little "leader" Osama Bin Laden that we don't care how ugly the [censored] is, he's invited as well and we'll give him something extra special. Then you can tell your so-called "Allah" all about it! Go ahead... I dare ya', you [censored] little [CENSORED!!]!

Jimmy Don Cox

Proceeds will benefit Anti-terrorism programs currently being developed.