Submitted by J.Thompson
We remember that today is an anniversary. Many of us remember where we were September 11 2001. How many remember the shock? How many remember, wondering if their family was on a plane or in one of the buildings that were struck? How many remember that our nation did come together united under a single concern for those who lost their life?
Our nation came together in a way I have never seen in my life. We gave without question, volunteer paid professionals from around the county mobilized to assist in rescue and recovery efforts. Our flag lined the streets of every town in the United States. We did not cower, we did not hide, we reached out to those around us and showed the world that as a nation we can united under one flag. We proved that despite, politics, religion, or what part of this country we were from, we were one nation.
In the year to follow, the scares of this event had not even begun to heal. We still came together with the pain fresh in our heart as if it were the day it all happened. We observed the day with the reverence and respect that it truly deserves. We still cared as a nation.
Today I cannot say this nation is united in caring about the importance of today. We have shamefully forgotten the fear, the uncertainty of that morning and the days and weeks to follow. A quick look across national websites and you see that 9-11 has been pushed down the page or perhaps a small line across the top offering a link to watch today’s ceremonies. Headlines about athletes take center stage over the importance of remembering what happened thirteen years ago.
This is not how you honor our countries worst day in history. There is more publicity and attention for commercialized holidays than there is for the day we lost nearly three thousand people on our own soil. How can we as a nation approach this day with such a lack of respect? How can we treat the loss that once galvanized a nation, with such little attention? When it only takes thirteen years to lose respect for our nation’s saddest day it shows a lack of morals.
I remember where I was. I remember trying to find out if my relatives made it into work before the planes struck the towers. I remember trying to call co-workers that were traveling by air that day. I remember not getting any answers. I remember wondering if there was more terror to come. Today I remember and I will never forget or lose an ounce of reverence for what this day means to this nation and me.
