Today is September 11, 2002 and when you read this it will be nearly a week later. Many of you will have felt many of the same things I’m feeling as I put fingers to keys.
I will never forget sitting in my office at my house looking with stunned amazement watching two of the symbols of American freedom burn.
I will never forget the horror, the ash covered people who feared for their lives or the brave firemen, policemen and courageous citizens who scrambled to try to save lives. Many gave their own lives in this attempt.
I will not forget the sound of a high speed jet crashing into the side of a building or the screams of people fleeing.
I will never forget watching the Pentagon burn, the fire trucks rushing to the scene, or the looks on the faces of those who escaped.
I will never forget the site of plane wreckage in Pennsylvania, the heroism of a few who knew they had to step forward to save so many more lives despite knowing they would lose their own. I will not forgot Todd Beamer’s words, “Let’s Roll.”
I will never forget the smugness of an evil man as he reveled in the acts of his clones. To this day, he’s a coward. He’s hidden in caves, never fought a battle and he doesn’t have the guts to stand up and take responsibility. He can only hide because he knows he has awakened a sleeping giant who will step on him.
I will never forget that there are American men and women who are on the other side of the world defending us Americans. They are avenging the lives of the people who were wrongly taken from their families on September 11, 2001. They are making sacrifices that few can make. Some will have made, and others will make the ultimate sacrifice. Let us not forget those brave soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who defend us. Without them the Taliban and al-Qaida would still stand dispensing death as if it were their birthright to do so.
I will not forget those who are left behind. They lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and friends. They will be reminded of their loss on a global scale every year. Think of them when you reflect on September 11, 2001.
I will not forget a single moment from that day. I’ll never forget calling my wife at the Clark Tower. I was in fear because she was in a tall building. That is what they wanted. They wanted us to be in fear of living the way we live. That has passed and we, as Americans, will not let them make us live in that fear.
Most importantly, I will never forget what I feel. I will not forget what we must do to keep our liberties sacred. I will not forget those who died to keep them for us. I will not forget those who are fighting to keep them.
