2009/09/11

Never Forget

DaGoddess @ 04:00

We can never forget. We can never let down our guard or pretend it didn’t happen. It did. 2,996 people died eight years ago. Innocents lost to acts of cowardice and terrorism. Men, women, and children gone in the blink of an eye.

Many of our children were babies or barely more than that when our nation was attacked. Some weren’t even yet conceived. For them, they’ve only known a post-9/11 world. And what do we tell them? Do we focus on politics? Do we just pretend it was only a dream? No and hell, no! To reduce this to politics or to pretend we were not attacked is a grave disservice to those who died on September 11, 2001.

I remember all too well the words spoken by the President just days later:

It is my hope that in the months and years ahead life will return almost to normal. We’ll go back to our lives and routines and that is good.

Even grief recedes with time and grace.

But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day and to whom it happened. We will remember the moment the news came, where we were and what we were doing.

Some will remember an image of a fire or story or rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever.

Time has given us the opportunity to heal and to move on with our lives. But it is our duty to never really forget the stark terror that filled our hearts as we watched buildings burn, planes crash, and smoke billow into the heavens. Our lives know peace, but what of the families of those who were killed? They still carry the scars from that day; there will always be a void where a loved one once stood. We must remember with them.

“Since September 11, 2001, an entire generation of young Americans has gained new understanding of the value of freedom and its cost, and duty and its sacrifice.” Do not give up that knowledge, do not give up the ideals of freedom, do not forget. Take a moment to sit with your children and reflect upon the memory of this day and what it meant to you. Remember the feeling of disbelief, the heartache. And remember, too, how you suddenly found comfort in the company of family, neighbors, and even strangers. It is in those moments that we reclaimed America and the American spirit. Do not forget.

“We will not waver, we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail.”

And we will not forget. We may take momentary flights of freedom, but only because we fight for freedom on a daily basis. We do not forget.

Flight

And a reminder of last year’s post: “Today

6 Comments

  1. We will never forget!

    Semper

    Comment by Pam — 2009/09/11 @ 06:28

  2. We won’t, but we must also look at fostering a better understanding of how we deal with the cultures that give rise to them – and recognise that they are a product of the Cold War “Surrogacy” policies of both East and West in arming “Freedom Fighters” to fight our battles in “Third World” countries and keep the fight away from our own shores. Just as we will fight and die to defend our cultural heritage, so will others when they see us trampling over their beliefs and cultural values.

    As Pliny wrote, “Si vis pacem; para bellum.” If we seek peace, we are prepared for war, but a greater maxim, which any commander worth his salt will quote is:
    “Know your enemy as he knows himself!”

    At present I know that my government, and certainly the media that try to manipulate our opinions, do not and therefore we all remain seriously at risk.

    Comment by The Gray Monk — 2009/09/11 @ 09:00

  3. Good post. I was able to join Project 2,996 and write a tribute to one of the 9/11 victims, even on this last day. May we all keep the memory of the victims and sacrifices of 9/11 alive. :flag:

    Comment by diamond dave — 2009/09/11 @ 13:16

  4. Names:
    http://sadoldgoth.blogspot.com/2009/09/9112001.html

    Comment by Jan — 2009/09/11 @ 14:37

  5. Beautiful post. :flag:

    Comment by Mrs. Who — 2009/09/11 @ 20:36

  6. Amen.

    Comment by Jim - PRS — 2009/09/12 @ 13:47

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