Eleven years ago today came a series of horrifying events that seemingly changed everything.
The crash of two planes into the World Trade Center in New York, another into the Pentagon just outside of Washington, D.C., and a fourth into a field near Shanksville had a profound effect on all of America.
Today, we’ll pause to remember the terrifying experiences that united us, the sadness that engulfed us and the heroism that motivated us. We’ll mourn in big cities and small towns. We’ll reflect on what was lost that day and what could never be taken from us.
And, on Wednesday, we’ll move on and go about our lives again.
In some ways, that might be the best thing we can do to honor those who lost their lives that day, especially the passengers and crew members of Flight 93. That doomed flight presumably was being flown toward a target in our nation’s capital by al-Qaida terrorists intent on destroying the symbols of our freedom and the icons of the greatness that America represents.
Instead, the passengers of Flight 93 – after a brief bit of democracy to decide on a course of action – rose up and fought back. We all know that the plane never made it to the hijackers’ intended target. Instead, the passengers’ resistance forced it to crash into the least destructive point possible.
We will never forget the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Nor should we.
But the fact that we have moved on and that memories of that horrible day are just that – memories – and not overriding factors in our daily lives prove that the terrorists failed in more than just their Flight 93 mission.
They didn’t destroy America – the government, the people or the concept of this great nation.
The terrorist attacks and our ensuing response to them have taken a great toll on us.
In addition to the nearly 3,000 victims of the attacks, we have lost thousands of members of our military in the fight against terror. That’s an incalculable cost.
By comparison, the freedoms that many Americans have sacrificed are mere inconveniences centering around heightened security.
In reality, day-to-day life in America isn’t much different than it was on Sept. 10, 2001.
We might be a little bit more aware of our surroundings. And, certainly, on days like today, there is a profound sense of patriotism and an appreciation for those who fight to defend our freedom.
But, in the end, the fact we can go about our lives without fears of terrorism intruding on every aspect of them is a testament to America and its people.
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