Honor who we lost — and how we responded

Cibolo, Texas: Twenty-five years ago, this nation was brought to tears. The horrific attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 demonstrated that the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can no longer shield us from hostilities and aggression. Those attacks were intended to demoralize, suppress and humiliate us, and to spread fear and hysteria among us.

Instead, a miracle occurred on that dreadful day of infamy. Those reprehensible acts of terrorism rekindled our spirits. They awakened us from an apathetic slumber. We became more united as a nation, and we emerged even stronger as a self-determined group of people: Americans. Like the phoenix, we were reborn from the smoldering ashes of death, destruction and despair. With tears in our eyes, heavy hearts and unyielding courage and intestinal fortitude, we returned with an even greater devotion to our endearing and enduring values and principles of life, liberty and freedom.

The perpetrators of those nefarious acts on Sept. 11 underestimated the resilience and resolve of the American people. Our durability, toughness, gumption and determination turned their day of grim, dour victory into a bitter defeat. They may knock us down, but by God, we always bounce back with even greater vigor, and with an even greater determination to put an end to their heinous acts of terrorism. God bless America!

Brooklyn: This year, 9/11 is especially heavy because it’s the 25th anniversary of that horrible set of events. To observe it in a meaningful way, may I suggest that you do something community-minded, such as volunteer work, donating blood or helping the disabled and........

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