Today we remember all those who lost their lives in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001; honor the courage of the first responders who risked and gave their lives to save others; and renew our commitment to all the people who have borne the pain of the attacks over the last 25 years —including the many who continue to fall ill due to their exposure to toxic materials.
Shortly after 9/11, I was honored to partner with Senator Bob Dole to launch the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than $193 million in scholarships to nearly 4,000 children and spouses of those who passed away or were permanently disabled as a result of the attacks. New funds, such as the September 11th Descendants Scholarship, which awarded its first six scholarships this year, continue to uphold the pledge we made 25 years ago that we would never forget. The Families of Freedom Fund, Descendants Scholarship, and other worthy organizations serving those affected by 9/11 are still needed and we should support them as we can.
We can’t erase the nightmare that so many have lived through and are still living with today, but we can support the people who have given and lost so much by treating one another with respect, in person and online, and recognizing that what we have in common is far more important than what divides us.
As 9/11 moves further from lived experience into history, may we always take this solemn anniversary to come together and keep alive the memories of all who were lost. We owe that to them, to their loved ones, to each other, and to future generations.
