Today marks 24 years since the attacks of September 11th. I was a college student at Eastern Illinois University when the news broke. My roommates and I sat frozen in front of the television, watching in disbelief as the second plane struck the World Trade Center. That moment, and the heartbreak that followed, is forever etched in my memory.
What stays with me most is the courage. The first responders who ran toward danger. The passengers of Flight 93 who fought back. The families who endured unimaginable loss and still found the strength to carry on.
Today, we honor the 2977 lives lost and the countless others forever changed. We remember the unity that emerged from tragedy and the resilience that continues to define us.
Let us never forget:
-The shock and sorrow that gripped our nation
-The bravery of everyday heroes
-The families who live with this loss every day
-The strength we found in one another
Every year I tell my kids the story, and I answer their questions and we share a prayer. We will never forget in this family.
We will always remember. Together.