September 11th changed everything in an instant.

 

Watching in horror as the terrorist attack unfolded at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in rural Pennsylvania, we knew that life would never again be the same. The events of that day united us as a nation. It didn’t matter who was President. It didn’t matter who was in Congress. All that mattered was – when the sky felt like it was falling – we had each other’s backs.

 

Now, 21 years later, we remember those who were lost, and we hold their families in our hearts. We know their pain endures to this day.

 

As America faces a new set of challenges, I choose to remember how we responded in that moment. The bravest among us who rushed in to help others, the ad hoc armada of watercraft that evacuated much of Lower Manhattan, the passengers who resolved not to let their plane be turned into a missile and tried to take control back from the hijackers.

 

We are a resilient people, and we can unite to face any obstacle when we do so with humanity and compassion for our neighbors.

 

On this day of reflection, during a time of deep division, I hope we can find our common humanity once again and use it to better our country and ourselves.

 

– Hank Johnson (he/him)