Never Forget

Each year on the anniversary of September 11th, we hear people echo the sentiment Never Forget. We hear it on the news, read it in the local paper, and see it posted on social media sites. While preparing my remarks for the 9/11 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony in Lexington I asked myself, what is it exactly that we should never forget?

Those of us who were witness to that day will never be able to forget the horrific images of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center’s North Tower, or the fiery crash of the third plane into the Pentagon. These images are impossible to forget. They will forever be in our memories, synonymous with the date, September 11th.

But we should also never the acts of heroism and selflessness performed that day and in the days that followed. We saw first responders running into the collapsing towers as others were running out. We heard the story of brave passengers on United Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers resulting in a failed attempt at attacking the Capitol. In the hours, days, and weeks following the attacks we were witness to a million acts of kindness from everyday citizens.

Throughout our history we as a country have shown that in a time of crises we rise to the occasion. We put others before ourselves whether they are family, friend or stranger. And this ability to put others before ourselves is what pulls us together in times of need. It is what gets us through in difficult times, and it is what makes us a great nation. This lesson is especially relevant today during a time of slow economic recovery, two wars, job losses, and great concern about the future. We are faced with many tough decisions. How we come together and work on solutions for the benefit of everyone will determine how well we come through this difficult time.

Working together, respecting one another, shared sacrifice, and ensuring that all our fellow citizens have what they need to survive, to take care of their families, and to live with dignity – regardless of who they are or what group they are part of – will be where our success lies.

The fire fighters and police officers who went into the collapsing towers, or those who spent weeks and month cleaning up the toxic waste at Ground Zero, or the hospital workers who treated the wounded for days on end were not thinking of themselves. They were putting their fellow citizens, neighbors, and friends’ needs ahead of their own. To me, this is what defines a heroic act. These acts of heroism and the spirit of the citizens across the country routing for them – not against them – is what got us through those terrible days.

This is what I hope we will never forget: the way we came together as a nation after September 11th, the way we put the needs of others ahead of our own, and the sense of unity we felt with one and other. This is the remembrance we should keep with us always. For when we do this, we truly honor the memory of September 11, 2001.