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Twenty-five years ago, thousands of Americans woke up, got ready, kissed their family’s goodbye and went to work, never knowing that September 11, 2001, would change their lives and our world forever.
On that day, terrorists attacked our country, taking the lives of 2,977 innocent people. Among them were 343 firefighters and 71 law enforcement officers who ran toward danger while others were running away, risking their own lives to save others.
Like so many Americans, I remember turning on the television and watching in disbelief as the second plane struck the South Tower of the World Trade Center. I remember the fear, the uncertainty, and the heartbreak that followed.
We remember the mothers and fathers who never made it home, the husbands and wives who lost their spouses, and the children who grew up without a parent. We remember the firefighters who ran upstairs while everyone else was running down. We remember the loved ones who made calls to say “I love you” one more time. Nearly 3,000 men and women never made it home, leaving behind families who still feel their absence every day.
We also honor the brave passengers and crew of Flight 93 who fought back against the hijackers and gave their lives to prevent another attack on our nation’s capital. They knew the danger they faced, yet they chose to act, putting the safety of their fellow Americans ahead of their own lives. Their courage changed the course of that day and stands as a lasting reminder of the extraordinary bravery of ordinary Americans. We will forever honor their sacrifice and remember the lives they saved.
In the ash and silence that followed, something happened. Strangers became family. Americans held each other, cried together, and stood united. For a moment, we remembered that what binds us together is greater than what divides us.
Twenty-five years later, I still think about the families who have an empty seat at the dinner table, the children who grew up without a parent, and the loved ones who continue to carry that loss. Their grief became our grief, and it still is.
We remember the innocent lives we lost. We honor those who ran toward danger to help others. And for those who wish us harm, we will never forget.
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