Joanne Kennelly, of Augusta, holds a photo of her brother Paul Tegtmeier who is a New York City Firefighter and is missing following the bombing of the World Trade Center. MICHAEL HOLAHAN/STAFF

''In a way, I'm almost looking for him to tell me how to feel,'' she said Thursday. ''I'm very angry right now.''

While watching the president address a joint session of Congress as she sat in her living room with family and friends, she said, she got her answer.

''I think he's saying that it's OK to be angry,'' she said. ''And he knows the American people are angry.''

Mrs. Kennelly's brother, Paul Tegtmeier, has been missing since the twin towers in New York were attacked by suicide terrorists. A firefighter for the city, Mr. Tegtmeier was one of the first to respond to Tower No. 1 at the World Trade Center after a plane slammed into its side. On Thursday night, the television image of Mr. Bush was displayed just below a candle mounted in honor of Mr. Tegtmeier.

Mrs. Kennelly said she was pleased with the president's speech mostly because Mr. Bush made his intentions clear.

''Oh, I like that,'' she said at one point when the president said that those who are against America are for terrorism. ''He's saying, 'You're either with us or you're not.'''

''It was a nicely worded ultimatum,'' added her husband, Tony Kennelly.

Mr. Kennelly said he also liked the idea of ''patient justice.''

''You want to make sure we're not perceived as the big bully going in,'' he said.

At times, Mrs. Kennelly leaned forward on her sofa to listen to the president speak. Other times, she shed tears. Through it all, she said, she kept thinking, ''I wonder what my brother would want?''

By the end, that answer came.

''He would be all for the president and getting the terrorists,'' she said. ''And I support (the president) wholeheartedly. He's looking out for this country.''

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 868-1222, Ext. 110, or prestonsparks@newstimesonline.com.