Commemorating 9/11, Celebrating 9/12 |
Celebrating the unity of 9/12 can help Americans process what seems like unrecoverable loss from tragedy.
Recapturing 9/12's spirit means choosing service, hope, and unity over cynicism and division.
Those in uniformed service lead by example as they pass the torch to the next generation of courageous heroes.
Twenty-five years have come and gone since that cool, clear September morning when evil tried to break the spirit of America, yet the memories of 9/11 make it feel like it was just yesterday. While so much has changed—in my life, the lives of so many others, and the world around us since that day—so much has also stayed the same. I still smell the smells, still hear the sounds, and still see things my mind has not and will never be able to unsee.
This week, as we gather once again to honor the 2,977 souls lost and the thousands more who have perished since from related illnesses, we must do more than simply remember the tragedy of 9/11. We must embrace the strength, unity, and hope of 9/12—the day that showed the world what America truly stands for.
The courageous optimism of 9/11's first responders
I still get emotional when I think and talk about 9/11. The details may have become as fuzzy as my pictures over the decades, but the sounds, smells, and tastes of that day remain forever imprinted on my soul. What defines me today, however, is not the darkness of September 11th, but the light that emerged on September 12th—a light that must guide us toward the future our nation........