Together We Remember 9/11

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Twenty-five years ago, our nation experienced a tragedy that changed us forever.

For those of us who lived through September 11, 2001, the memories remain vivid—the shock, the sadness, the fear and the disbelief. We remember the innocent lives taken far too soon. We remember the families whose lives were forever changed. We remember the firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel and ordinary citizens who ran toward danger to help others.

We also remember what happened in the days that followed. Americans stood together. We checked on our neighbors, proudly displayed our flag and remembered that despite our differences, we were one nation.

As the years pass, more children are growing up without a personal memory of that day.  That makes our responsibility even greater.  How many young people ask “Why does it matter.” That breaks my heart. The idea that it doesn’t matter to our next generation reminds us that history forgotten tends to repeat itself. We must never repeat the world on 9/11. We should strive for the world we experienced on September 12, 2001.  The world united, the world filled with compassion, the world of helping strangers and consoling them through their grief. On 9/11 the world stopped spinning for a moment and reality in its ugliness and horror affected us all. Therefore, we must never forget and never allow this monumental horrific day to be forgotten no matter how uncomfortable those conversations may be.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is simple but powerful: Remember, Honor and Teach. We remember those we have lost. We honor those who serve and sacrifice. Most importantly, we teach the next generation the history that came before them. 9/11 is an integral part of our mission.

History must remain alive—not to keep our children living in fear, but to help them understand the price of freedom, the meaning of courage and the importance of standing together. When we stop telling these stories, we risk losing the lessons they carry.

Today, Quiet Corner Veterans Support Coalition pauses to remember every life lost on September 11, every family who still carries that loss and every hero who answered the call.

May we continue to speak their names, share their stories and teach our children why this day must never become just another date on the calendar.

We remember. We honor. We teach.

And we will never forget.

Patti George