Never Forget

NEVER FORGET - A Quarter Century Later

Honoring the Promise to “Never Forget”

It has been a quarter of a century since the morning of September 11, 2001. For those of us who lived through it, the memories remain frozen in time. I still remember the piercing blue of the sky, the confusion that first appeared, and watching a news reporter as the second plane, unknown by the reporter, flew directly behind her into the second video. I remember the haunting images of lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and a quiet field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, like they were yesterday.

The 25-year milestone brings a sobering realization that an entire generation of Americans have come of age, my son included, with no living memory of that day. For these young adults today, 9/11 is another history lesson written in a textbook, much like Pearl Harbor or the Kennedy assassination was for my generation.

This is the reason for our collective vow to ‘Never Forget’, and why it is more vital than ever.

Honoring More Than the Numbers

Today, as we reflect on the tragedy, we remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives lost, the 343 firefighters of the FDNY, 72 police officers (including 1 who died on Flight 93), the port authority workers, and the everyday citizens who perished. We remember the extraordinary courage of the passengers of Flight 93, who chose to fight back and alter history.

Our national remembrance has expanded to embrace a devastating toll that continues to unfold. In recent commemorations, solemn recognition has been given to the thousands of first responders, recovery workers, and survivors who have passed away or continue to battle severe illnesses linked to the toxic dust and debris of Ground Zero. Their sacrifice did not end on September 11; for many it was a battle that lasted decades.

The Legacy of Unity

Beyond the grief, 9/11 revealed the profound resilience of the human spirit. In the immediate aftermath, political divisions faded between a wave of shared humanity. Strangers locked arms, blood donor lines stretched for blocks, and communities across the country wrapped their arms around one another.

As the years move forward, keeping the memory of 9/11 alive is not just about looking back at a dark chapter, it’s about holding onto the ideals that pulled us together and through the dark. It is about teaching the next generation about the strength found in unity, the unwavering dedication of those who run toward danger, and the duty of preserving a free and vigilant society.

Today, wherever you are, take a moment to reflect, honor the heroes, and keep the promise alive.

**This poem was written in 2011, but the meaning is still the same

A NATION UNITED

The world filled with sorrow

on that cold September day,

And across the nation flags were flown

in such a grand display,

Showing all across the land,

our country still stands tall,

And no matter how they strike at us

our country will not fall.

Shadows fade as seasons turn,

and peace brings quiet grace,

And self-inflicted fractures

slowly find their rightful place.

Our unity soon disappeared;

the hand we held grew weak,

And quickly we forgot the strength

and the courage that we seek.

While heroes fought in distant lands

and sacrificed so much,

We traded shared devotion

for the noise of daily life.

So perhaps someone can tell me

why it takes an act of terror

To bring our country close as one,

despite our faults and errors.

Must ashes fall and loved ones bleed

to bridge the lines we trace,

Before we lower all our guards

and see the strength in grace?

Let not the fires of tragedy

define what makes us whole,

Or wait for breaking hearts to mend

the fragments of our soul.

Stand firm together, hand in hand,

through every passing year,

And let our lasting unity

be stronger than our fear.

Nicole P

09/11/2011

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