We will never forget.
Over the past 21 years, these four words have been uttered countless times throughout our nation when speaking of the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. Indeed, more than two decades later, we still remember the most horrific attack perpetrated on our soil – families continue to miss loved ones lost that day; the potential of nearly 3,000 lives will forever remain unfulfilled; and the physical and psychological wounds resulting from the evil that reached our shores may never heal.
To those heroic souls lost in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and Somerset County, Pa.: We will never forget you, and we pray for your eternal peace.
To the friends and loved ones of those who never returned home on that fateful Tuesday: We will never forget the loss you continue to endure.
To the brave men and women who took up arms in defense of our nation in the ensuing days and years: We will never forget your sacrifice, nor the liberty it has gained for us all.
To those still battling the trauma and physical toll that dark day still wreaks: We will never forget that you, too, have suffered, and we as a nation stand with you.
Yes, today, Sept. 11th, we turn our attention to the heinous acts and say, indeed, we will never forget the terrorism that reached the homeland nor its gruesome aftermath. We must also, however, never forget the nationalistic spirit that arose from these attacks; it’s a patriotism that shone the best of us as a people – a camaraderie and brotherhood that united us as a country, solidified a unique and unbreakable bond among us all, and reminded us that regardless color or creed, age or gender, religion or persuasion, we are above all Americans.
While we, those who survived the attacks and their impact, will never forget the role they played on our lives, we must also remind those who have come since the abominable acts carried out 21 years ago, their lasting legacy, and the American spirit that followed.
An entire generation born since 2001 knows of the Sept. 11th attacks only through secondhand sources: textbooks, videos, personal recollections, and the like. We must ensure that they never forget the bravery our nation displayed in the face of such barbarism and ensure they learn the lessons we all learned on that fateful day: Light outshines any darkness, right always conquers wrong, and those willing to work for peace will triumph over those seeking to do us harm.
May they never forget that they live in the greatest country in the world, a nation filled with compassion, forgiveness, and empathy – the exact antithesis of our enemies’ ideology. On this most solemn of remembrances, may we all never forget our nation was forever changed on Sept. 11, 2001, and in the days that followed we were privileged to see a glimpse into the country we can once again achieve – a varied people coming together for the common good of each other.
May God grant perpetual peace to those taken from us on Sept. 11, 2001.
May He inspire us to never forget all He has given us.
And may He bless the United States of America.
-Marc Molinaro
|
This message was sent to your [email protected] email address because it was listed as the best way to reach you.
However, if this is no longer the best way to reach you or you no longer want to receive any more of our emails... you can unsubscribe here. |